Next (2007)

So Next stars Nic Cage with some bad hair and some bad special effects. It all comes off like a big budget TV movie instead of a low budget ‘movie’ movie. Yes I just said movie movie. Anyway the remaining cast of characters include Jessica Biel as a slightly subdued character who basically stands around and falls in love with Mr. Cage and Julian Moore who plays the cliche cop roll with a 2×4 shoved… (we’ll you can take it form there). It’s safe to say this movie came together out of the blue and probably took a short time to film.

Anyway the plot is thus: Nic Cage can see into the future and so spends his time as a magacian. The US gov’t somehow “magically” finds out he can do this and decides to bring him in. Because they believe a nuclear bomb will be detonated on US soil and Jack Bower is on vacation.

Also it’s the French trying to bomb us. I knew we couldn’t trust them! So this movie is more like Mario 2 than anything else. What do I mean *SPOILERS*…

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… is that the movie progresses and actually ends and near the end when everything goes into the crapper (the bomb being detonated) we all learn that it was just Nicholas seeing into the future so then the movie ends with him just helping the government out – with them driving into the sunset.

It’s safe to say that was a cop out answer. Now whether or not Philip K. Dick intended it to be that way I don’t know. I also assume there was a bit more conflict given to the ‘seeing the future’ thing along with hurting one man to save millions question. Which is all very good and could have been explored in great detail instead of making a badly done thriller movie.

The only good is that Nic Cage does very well at his dead pan style and for some reason it works well in this movie. Though not up to the caliber of Lord of War it’s still very enjoyable in that respects. So honestly just know what you’re getting into. It isn’t the worst movie ever made but it surely isn’t the best Philip K. Dick adaptation out there. Probably better waiting on Blade Runner re-release.

Verdict: Not bad, not good.

Blades of Glory (2007)

Well, Blades of Glory is actually a pretty funny movie. Now most people maybe have gone “well d’uh” but you see I don’t share the same mentality for Will Farrell that you might. I found most of his movies pretty dumb (except for Stranger than Fiction) and find he seems to play the SAME character over and over again.

So with Blades – he’s back – as the same character. But this time I think it works. It’s the stupid, over confident moron. I do hope it’s acting for Mr. Farrell… But it is really funny I think because John Hedder is a good person to bounce off of. Now this movie is a buddy pick but both of the characters are pretty stupid with John Hedder being a bit ‘smarter’ as far as that goes. So it works and somehow – He (Hedder) is more of the start of the movie – which may also be what works – with Farrell not being relagated to a sidekick but rather carefully tempered.

Also Gob from Arrested Developement is here. Will Arnett playing just about the same character, also the girl from the office – playing … well you get the idea. No one here is acting (accept maybe Will Arnett’s wife… but even then that is minor). But nonetheless the movie seems to work. And work will, as if everything was written for these characters.

So this movie is more of a miracle that so many things came together to use a lot of people in roles that somehow just worked. OK so I am WAY to critical on this movie I realize. But hey, at least I said it was pretty good. Not something to buy but a good rental.

Verdict: For stupid humor, go rent it.

Miami Vice (2006)

So here we are. The first time I laid eyes on Miami Vice (“the movie”) I was curious. Because taking the TV show and adapting to the big screen hasn’t worked out so well for most things. But then again this was Michael Mann coming off Collateral (which was a really, really good movie).

Vice comes and goes. It is a good movie – and from the moment it says “go” you can tell it’s a Mann film. Which is what I like about it. I also enjoyed Colin Farrell a lot more than I normally do. It did his tough-guy-not-speaking roll but it came off a lot better than Bullseye from Daredevil.

If you like Michael Mann or want to see a live action version of those real TV cop shows then this is the movie for you. What Mann I think succeeds so well at is making you forget you are watching a movie. It’s not that you are drawn in for characters but rather the surroundings. Like I said it feels like an extended episode of Cops.

So check it out, I’d go with Heat or Collateral before I’d go with Miami Vice but it is a good movie nonetheless. Oh and the ‘unrated’ version – since I didn’t see the ‘rated’ one I can’t really compare. I can’t see anything besides length that was added in. I’ve seen movies with more gore/sex than this so I can’t really see what the big deal about this being unrated is – other than the fact that they added in material and didn’t wanted to go back to the ratings board. Anyway…

Verdict: Good rental

Crank (2006)

That is all I have to say…

Stardust (2007)

Wow! I did not expect much when I went into this movie. Sure the previews looked interesting. But it certainly didn’t look like this was going to be one (if not the) best movie I’ve seen so far of 2007.

Well, it is. This movie (if you have to compare it to anything) feels a bit like The Princess Bride with a bit more dark humor thrown in. And speaking of the humor the movie is really funny. I’d also compare it to Hellboy (2004) in that it’s funny but action packed and it makes the scenes that are funny even funnier because it isn’t a comedic movie (necessarily) though Neil Gaimen is or does write pretty humorous books (so I’m told…).

So Matthew Vaughn brings us another great movie (after Layer Cake) I’ve given a lot or put a lot of hope in Vaughn and wonder what his take on X-men 3 would have been. I suppose most things could have been better than what Brett Ratner did.

The story is rather simple (if you got it down to it’s bare essentials) young man who is an outcast, he soon finds he’s much more than that and draws on the inner strength we all knew he had and falls for the very beautiful woman. So while that is at the core of the movie where it does well (and this is probably where we thank Neil Gaimen) is that the characters are very real and fleshed out. So are the situations which are places and ideas that we haven’t seen THAT much in this type of environment.

Amidst the summer blockbuster movies this comes off as a real gem. It is right out of left field and what we need during this long stretch. I can’t recommend it more highly as easily the most enjoyable movie so far.

Verdict: Awesome!

Distrubia (2007)

Sorry for the long delay in publishing. I’ve gotten a new job and am settling in. So up on the block are Distrubia (2007), The Good Sheppard (2006), and The Bridge to Teribithia (2007). So hopefully I’ll have those up in the next few days and please stay around! We haven’t left yet. So back to your regularly scheduled review.

Well, Distrubia is what you make of it. It is very much a remake of Hitchcock’s Rear Window (19??) and for what it’s worth I think they did a pretty good job. This isn’t some hyper blood filled movie – like you would almost shiver at the thought of them butchering Hitchcock’s movie. No it isn’t as good as the original but in it’s own rights it isn’t really that bad. In fact I found in enjoyable enough.

So if you need a re-hash of the premise I suggest you check out Rear Window – but on the other hand it’s simple enough. A serial killer lives next door to Shia (I forgot his name in the movie) and the movie spends its time trying to convince you that they are the ones that are crazy instead of the guy actually being the killer. What is interesting about the original movie is that it is psychological in nature and the ‘twist’ at the end is that he is the killer! Where the movie(s) is(are) trying to misdirect you all along.

So other than that there isn’t much to this film – it does well at creating and crafting an intense environment but isn’t overtly stylized (which is good).

Verdict: A good rental (if you’re in the mood)

Hot Fuzz (2007)

Wow, Hot Fuzz is from the guys that brought us Shawn of the Dead (2004) which I didn’t quite finish. Now after seeing this I might have to go back and do that.

Hot Fuzz is plane and simple: AWESOME.

I really don’t think there is much more that needs to be said. Though the first half of the movie is somewhat boring compared to the last half. But nonetheless it is really funny. Though like I said the last half of the movie makes up for anything in the first half. It is a complete rip on anything Michael Bay or any over the top guy action movie.

But what sets this movie apart from say Scary Movie (or Date Movie, Epic Movie or any other junk that seems to get made from those guys) is that it seems to like the source material it is ripping on.

Though if you must be warned it has pretty bad language and some exceptionally gory scenes in it. That would be the only things that would prevent me from getting the movie. For a movie that is a spoof of action movies it seemed a tad too bloody to me. Though hardly anyone gets killed by guns, surprisingly.

Verdict: Awesome!

It seems as if the reviews are getting shorter – or I am getting better? Who knows there isn’t a lot you need to know about this movie, just know what you like and if you aren’t turned off by the violence and language and are a fan of actions movies there is no reason not to see it.

Zodiac (2007)

Well, David Fincher strikes again (after I very much liked Fight Club (1999) and Seven (1995) but will never watch again – oh and Panic Room (2002) was pretty poor IMO). So he comes back with Zodiac – which is all about the serial killer who called himself the Zodiac.

First off: This is not a slasher movie so please under no circumstances go see this movie if you are looking for Texas Chain-saw massacres the first, or whatever that mess was called. This is not that type of movie.

Second: I really enjoyed this movie for almost one single reason. It took it’s time to make a character driven study of a tragic events. Trying to hunt down a deranged serial killer is not a fun even or a chapter in your life. But these men tried to do that and it tore them apart. One can only wonder what we would do in a similar circumstances.

So this movie is very slow topping in at almost 3 hours long you will feel it “drag” but compared to the recent Pirates fare it doesn’t seem to really be wasting space. This isn’t the overly long action movies (Spider-man 3 (2007) / Transformers (2007)) it just takes its time while weaving between multiply characters.

Who by the way are all great. Jake Gyllenhaul and Robert Downy Jr are becoming some of my favorite actors (after Donnie Darko and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) respectively). I suppose all I really want you to take from this review is what kind of movie that this is: it’s a character study – not a slasher pick. So that if you go and see it you can understand that it’s really a good film. One of the best for 2007, but as with all things having the correct expectations can make or break your viewing and I think the trailers did a big of a disservice.

Verdict: Very good!

(Like watching a very well produced Discovery Channel documentary).

300 (2007)

I wanted to wait until this was on video so I could be sure that it was as great as I thought it was in the theater. I know you’ve all either seen or have read it or have heard about it, so I won’t go into the stuff that you already (should) know.

However:

1. Gerard Butler is a beautiful, beautiful man and should be nearly naked in every movie he makes from now on.

2. I would love to live in Frank Miller’s head for a day or two.

3. Zack Snyder is brilliant (I also LOVED his Dawn of the Dead remake).

This movie is gorgeous and intense and heartbreaking.

Just see the movie if you have not – see it again if you have.

Premonition (2006)

Well, I will write a quick review and update this at a later time. I will just quickly post my wife’s review:

“After watching it, It didn’t make any sense and now that it’s over I don’t understand why they made it.”

So there you go. It’s a convoluted mess of a plot that when you look back on it, it won’t even make senses as far as moving – Memento this isn’t. So please, don’t subject yourself to it. There isn’t anything you haven’t already scene.

SPOILERS:

And if you really must know, the whole movie is pointless – he still dies in the end. So maybe they are trying to tell you – you can’t stop fate? Not a very good movie in my opinion.

Verdict: Pointless