Monthly Archives: April 2011

Apr 30 2011

Watchmen (2009)

Director: Zack Synder

Starring: Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer, Stephen McHattie,

The year is 1985 but this isn’t the world we lived through. Costume Vigilantes have been closed down by the government, but after the death of the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) the team is reunited trying to solve the murder of their former partner. As the plot thickens a bigger and more shocking plan is underway.

Told from Rorcshach (Jackie Earle Haley) diaries looking back at how the team was and looking at the new team learning origins and specialist abilities of all members. The original team included The Comedian, Silk Spectre (Carla Gugino), Night Owl (Stephen McHattie), Moloch (Matt Frewer) and Dr Manhattan (Billy Crudup). While the new team include the original names of Silk Spectre ll (Malin Akerman) Night Owl ll (Patrick Wilson), Ozymandias (Matthew Goode) and still Dr Manhattan.

Rorcshach is the main investigator believing there is a bigger plot and that someone really is out to kill the original Watchmen each twist and turn keeps you guessing on what really is happening and the love triangle between Dr Manhatten, Night Owl ll and Silk Spectre ll shows how human this heroes are too.

Based on a graphic novel and one the most popular at that director Zack Snyder delivers an absolute masterpiece that will keep you coming back to watch again and again. Visually this movie delivers whether its the alternate New York, Mars or whether the next scene takes you. the storyline is brilliant and goes against ever superhero movie you may have seen before. Each over the top fight sequences doesn’t shy away from any limits be it taken on run of the mill criminals or fighting the enemy.

Overall i would say this is the best graphic novel to movie adaptations and a must see 94%

Apr 29 2011

Tooth Fairy (2010)

Director: Michael Lembeck

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Stephen Merchant, Ryan Sheckler, Seth MacFarlane, Julie Andrews, Billy Crystal,

Derek Thompson (Dwayne Johnson) is an aging ice hockey star playing in the minor leagues, he shatters children’s dreams because his was taken from him. With a new superstar joining the team and a building relationship with his girlfriend Carly (Ashley Judd) and her two children Randy and Tess, Derek starts to notice his age.

He then gets summered to be a tooth fairy to make up for his dream breaking. transformed to the fairy land he meets Tracey (Stephen Merchant) who becomes his almost like parole officer for his sentence give to him by head tooth fairy Lily (Julie Andrews). Now Derek must learn to become a better person.

This is the last Disney comedy Dwayne Johnson appeared in and yet again he appears as an aging sports star like the Game Plan. With a great cameo like role for Billy Crystal as Jerry the guy who goes through the different tools to make Derek a better tooth fairy.

It offers a strong family message with the whole never give up on your dreams and has the typical comedy scenarios and everyone performs well throughout the movie.

My overall rating would be a 75%

Apr 29 2011

2012 (2009)

Director:  Roland Emmerich

Starring:John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Thomas McCarthy, Woody Harrleson, Danny Glover, Liam James, Stephen McHattie

Based on Mayan superstition this is the end of the world, now how do man survive this?

First off Dr Adrien Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and one of his associates discover the world is overheating from the inside due to solar flares. so he gets a solution to the end of the world started up with governments all around the world. Now in 2012 things start to accelerate and time is running out.

Meanwhile a struggling divorced writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) gets a weekend camping with his two children. He takes them down to Yellowstone only to find out the Lake has nearly all gone and after approaching the army take them back to a base. Here he meets Dr Helmsley a fan and sounding like his only fan of his book. After the chatty chatty big fan speech the family get escorted of the land back tot he camp area. After arriving conspiracy nut Charlie Frost (Woody Harrleson) asks what is there and tells Jackson what he believes to be happening, Jackson just assumes he is crazy and ignores his warnings.

After dropping his kids back home he goes to his day job as a limo driver only to discover that Charlie might be making some sense, he rushes back to the house and get his kids ex wife and boyfriend. now we have one of the most amazing over the top car chase action sequences ever with a limo driving through town avoiding everything possible making it to an airport and fly away to safety for now.

After flying to the Yellowstone abandoned army base to refuel Jackson goes in search of Charlie. After finding him on top of a mountain over looking Yellowstone he learns of the crafts for safety or future of mankind, now for the next chase against nature this time in a camper van with a volcanic cloud after them,

Flying of to the next airport Jackson meets his employer who needs an extra pilot for the trip to China where the vessels are kept, after yet another over the top action sequence they are left to fend for themselves in the middle of the mountains of China, meeting a family who has worked on vessels and created a plan to sneak on a vessel.

Roland Emmerich follows up action blockbuster like Independence day, Godzilla and Day after tomorrow with another action blockbuster and he sure dose like destroying America in his movies.

This is a truly epic survival adventure if not very hard to believe it is full of cliche and cheesy one liners and overall just a good fun movie to watch, he throws up the question ‘what would we do in this situation?’ and puts out how money can buy you safety.

Overall i would give it an 82% as it keeps you holing onto what will happen next.

Apr 29 2011

Buried (2010)

Director:Rodrigo Cortes

Starring: Ryan Reynolds

A man Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) is buried in a coffin and has 90minutes to raise $5 million simple sounding movie right?

From the opening scene or Paul stirring awake realising where he is you just know you have to see this through to the end. Finding out he has a lighter, cellphone and the contents of his pockets. After making several phone calls trying to he starts finding solutions but just as one closes another one started.

This movie is one the most suspense driven movies you could possibly see Ryan Reynolds shines in this outstanding performance that will have you seating on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Rating a nail bitting 90%

Apr 29 2011

Red (2010)

Retired and Extremely Dangerous that is Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) Marvin Boggs ( John Malkovich) Victoria (Helen Mirren) and Joe Matherson (Morgan Freeman) these characters are trying to figure out why the C.I.A after trying to kill them. Being lead by William Cooper (Karl Urban) our veterans play a game of cat and mouse which slowly unfolds the reasons for the hunt down by the C.I.A.

Full of lots of action sequences and one liners and a storyline that keeps you interested all the way through. Brucie does what he does best, John Malkovich shines as the one who has lost his mind and Karl Urban does a very good job as the government guy.

with all the twists and turns this movie is one for all action movie fans i will give it a solid 82%