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Movie Review

The Mummy Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor (2008)

Director: Rob Cohen
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Michelle Yeoh, Luke Ford, Isabella Leong, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Russel Wong, Liam Cunningham, David Calder

This third installment on The Mummy movies in based in China rather than Egypt so no Imhotep this time. Starting off with the traditional back story following the evil emperor Han (Jet Li) and after being cured by sorceress Zi Yuan (Michelle Yeoh) Han and his army are turned into a terracotta army a lost in time.

We now have a more grown up Alex (Luke Ford) on an archaeological dig finds the terracotta army along with his professor Roger Wilson (David Calder) and take the Emperor Han back to the museum for an exhibit. On the other side of the world Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evy O’Connell (Maria Bello) are asked to escort The Eye of Shangri-La to China. All the family meet up in Jonathan (John Hannah) club in China.

While passing on the relic at the museum Roger Wilson teams up with General Yang (Anthony Wong Chau Sang) to betray the O’Connells and raise Emperor Han who sets of on a rampage escape through China. With the help of mysterious young lady Lin (Isabella Leong) the O’Connells attempt in vein to stop Han’s escape. With the help of one of Rick’s old buddies Mad Dog Maguire (Liam Cunningham) the O’Connells and Lin must now race across China visiting ancient ruins and finding the mythical fountain of Youth and stop Emperor Han from taking over the world.

The story is a good story with the twists of seeing and learning on Chinese myths including Yetis, even tho it is very similar to the original Mummy movie going back to the basic ideas losing the whole reincarnation back story built in the Mummy returns. Another couple of things that weaken this movie in a comparison to the first two is no Stephen Sommers or Rachel Weisz.

Overall the basic action adventure in products just not the high standards we would be used to Brendan Fraser and John Hannah both put in their good performances while Maria Bello as the concerned mother more than adventurous Liberian. Jet Li villain seems more ruthless than Imhotep but was always a fighter who wanted it all rather than a guy who would do anything for love.

My rating 78%

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Movie Review

The Mummy Returns (2001)

Director: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Oded Fehr, Dwayne Johnson, Freddie Boath, Patricia Velasquez, Alun Armstrong, Adewale Akinnuoye-Adbaje, Shaun Parkes

This time we start even further back in ancient Egypt with the Scorpion King (Dwayne Johnson) as a warrior who is about to loses a war and is exiled to the desert, on the brink off death he make a deal with Anubis to defeat all his foes, Anubis accepts and sends an unbeatable army who conquer all. After this the Scorpion King is taken in to a bracelet where he must wait to be awaken when someone puts on his bracelet.

Almost forgotten from history Evy (Rachel Weisz) Rick (Brendan Fraser) and their son Alex (Freddie Boath) locate the Scorpion King’s bracelet better known as Bracelet of Anubis are return to the rather posh mansion where they meet Jonathan (John Hannah) pretend to be Rick to impress a woman. Back in another part of Egypt an expedition to Hamanutra to recover the remains of Imhetop (Aronld Vosloo) lead by Baltus Hafez (Alun Armstrong) a curator at the London museum and Meela Nais (Patricia Velasquez) who seems to know too much information. After locating the body and the book of the dead they head back to London to steal the bracelet of Anubis from the O’Connell’s.

Alex trying to hide that he opened the case with the bracelet put its on and is shown a location. Lock-Nah (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and his men kidnap Evy and steal the case of the bracelet of Anubis leaving Rick, John, Alex and Ardeth Bay (Oded Fehr) to go and save her. As we learn some of the consequences of Alex putting on the bracelet just the apocalypse this time.

After Baltus Hafez, Meela Nais and Lock-Nah bring Imhotep back to life and he in return brings some mummies back to life to kill Rick and Ardeth Bay for saving Evy, we have a great chase through London in double Decker bus fighting these mummies before Lock-Nah kidnaps Alex after figuring out he has the bracelet and they head off back to Egypt. Rock. Evy and Arbeth bay follow and with the help of an old buddy of Rick’s Izzy (Shaun Parkes) they race across Egypt to find their son and save the world again by stopping the Scorpion King and his army rising from the dead.

We get a lot more reincarnation back story learning how some characters are more important to each other than the original lead us to believe. With some stunning landscapes this is one sequel that could actually be considered better than the original. Also having back story between Lock-Nah and Ardeth Bay gives scenes with the two of them have a nice added tension.

As an action adventure fan i would consider this one of my favourites knowing nearly all the lines shows how many times i have watched this movie with incredible re watch value. Strong story line gives all watching something to keep them interested but you may need to check out The Mummy (1999) to understand all relationships fully.

My overall rating is 95%

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Movie Review

The Mummy (1999)

Director; Stephen Sommers
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Kevin j. O’Connor, Oded Fehr, Jonathan Hyde, Erick Avari, Omid Djalili, Patricia Velasquez

Starting in ancient Egypt High Priest Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo) has a forbidden love with the Pharaoh’s mistress Anck Su Namun (Patricia Velasquez) only for Imhotep to run and Anck Su Namun to kill the Pharaoh and then herself. The Pharaoh’s bodyguards Capture Imhotep and his soldiers and puts them to death leaving the most gruesome death for Imhotep himself the Hom-Dai mummified alive.

We are now in the 1920s at the same spot Hamunaptra the city of the dead. There is a war battle going on with Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) and Beni (Kevin J. O’Connor) Rick and Beni’s side get over powered and Beni runs and hides leaving rick for dead only for the sand to shape into a face and scare the other side away. Looking over Ardeth Bay (Oded Fehr) and his guardians on the city leave Rick for the desert to finish off.

Fast forward a few more years and we meet Evy (Rachel Weisz) an over qualified Liberian working in Cairo. Her Brother Jonathan (John Hannah) brings her a map to Hamunaptra and asks the curator (Erick Avari) to set out s mission to explore the area only to burn the map and rubbish the idea. They go to the jail where Rick is being held and negotiate his release with the warden (Omid Djalili).

The team now set off on the expedition only to discover there is a rival expedition guided by Beni. Racing to Hamunaptra the both start digging in separate areas both making different discoveries and after accidentally raise Imhotep and they face a race against time to stop Imhotep from taking over the world.

This is a very much like the Indiana Jones movies full of action and one liners. Brendan Fraser is great as the reluctant hero with the support role giving used for vitals lines and parts of the movie you will remember for when you watch the movie second time you will know the lines coming.

The special effects are what makes this movie special with Imhotep not being full human when first bought back to life and going through the regeneration process. solid story that will keep audience involved from start to finish.

My rating a great action adventure movie 92%

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Movie Review

Catfish (2010)

Directors: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Starring: Ariel Schulman and Yaniv Schulman

Nav a photographer from New York starts getting paintings of his picture from a young girl Abby. After getting a few more pictures Nav getting into the friend of the family position with phone calls and facebook conversations chatting to the mom Angela Dad Vincent and most importantly older sister Megan. Thinking he might be falling for Megan the older sister he decides to take a chance and go and meet this family with his brother and other room mate. What will happen when he gets there? how true as the people he has been talking too?

Shot in the form of a documentary following Nav on his relationship trip we are talking on a patient journey of deception. This film will keep you wanting to see what will happen and shows how easy it is to fake something through the likes of facebook.

Made on a very small budget of just over quarter of a million dollars this is one indie movie worth watching for anyone who craves an original story. it has a really feeling about how it is shot giving us the audience a chance of a true story unfolding on front of us.

My rating for this movie is a 74%

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Movie Review

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Director: F. Gary Gray
Starring; Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, Leslie Bibb, Michael Irby, Gregory Itzin, Regina Hall, Emerald-Angel Young, Christian Stolte, Annie Corley, Richard Portnow, Viola Davis, Josh Stewart

While simply looking after his daughter and getting ready for the family meal a door bell rings and Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) answers the door only to get attacking by two men restrained and beaten the men move into the house killing his wife and young daughter. Clarence Darby (Christian Stolte) and Rupert Ames (Josh Stewart) are caught and taken to a trial. Hot shot lawyer Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) is offered a deal which gives him his guarantee success rate which is all that matters to him. This deal with Clarence means Rupert is put to death while he goes free after three years in jail. Clyde is less than impressed but has little choice but to accept.

Ten years down the line Rupert Ames is about to be executed and Nick and his mentor Jonas Cantrell (Bruce McGill) and his new apprentice Sarah Lowell (Leslie Bibb) all go to view, only something goes wrong leading to a less human death for Ames. The police go after Clarence thinking he might know or be involved in the crime only for him to be given an escape by a mystery police man who turned out to be Clyde. Clyde ends up butchering Clarence and filming it.

Police then arrest Clyde Nick questions Clyde only for Clyde to use a play on words to sound guilty but never actually admitting anything. The Tape Clyde filmed was sent to Nicks Family his wife Kelly (Regina Hall) and daughter Denise (Emerald-Angel Young) who watch it only for the tape to reveal no image of the murderer. On to the bail hearing where Clyde gets Judge Laura Burch (Annie Corley) to grant bail with legal material he has learnt himself. Only to laugh and shove it in her face question how they can let someone accused of murder free.

Clyde is now in jail waiting for trial but starts offering deals to Nick if these deals are not met people involved in the original case will die, will Nick continue to take the deals or not? who will be the ones to suffer for Nick’s pride and Clyde revenge.

The Story will keep you on the edge of your seat and also keep you question who to cheer for as Nick is by the book not getting hands dirty guy while Clyde is trying to bring the justice system down so there are no more deals. I personally cheer for Clyde as his character sums up the feeling anyone who had something similar happen to them would drive them to the edge.

My overall rating is a perfect action thriller 93%

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Movie Review

Twelve Rounds (2009)

Director: Renny Harlin
Starring: John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris, Brian White, Gonzalo Menendez, Taylor Cole, Kyle Russell-Clements

Starting out with the FBI trying to catch Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen) an international arms salesman which goes wrong, Miles and his girlfriend Erica (Taylor Cole) are having a steady get away when they just happen to stop next to a patrol car. In this patrol car are Danny Fisher (John Cena) and his partner Hank Carver (Brian White) and the two go for a routine pull over which also goes wrong leaving Hank Shot and the patrol car totalled. Danny sets out on foot to catch the car cutting through houses and gardens, After a few blocks he catches up only for disaster to strike Erica is killed in an accident leaving Miles swearing revenge.

One year later Danny and Hank are now detectives after capturing Miles. Thinking this will be just another day Danny and his wife Molly (Ashley Scott) set out on their ways Molly catches the ferry to work, when Danny gets a phone call not just any phone call it is Miles. Miles ends up blowing up their house and capturing Molly forcing Danny to go twelve rounds against him completing tasks ranging from stopping a street tram with no brakes to jumping out of a twenty storey building. Danny, Hank and two FBI agents George Aiken (Steve Harris), Ray Santiago (Gonzalo Menendez) all set out to stop what called be city wide destruction.

Director Renny Harlin credits include Die Hard 2, Cliffhanger and Deep Blue Sea. Twelve Rounds really follows this movies up nicely with endless edge of the seat action. John Cena lacks any real acting ability but really lives up to the term action star and is actually believable as a cop pushed to the limit to save his wife. Aidan Gillan also shines as a almost psychopathic villain who has nothing to learn and a very good plan set out.

As Story this is over the top but is very watchable to anyone who is a fan of an all out action movie, with very little to really think about storyline wise you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Hopefully people can look pasted the fact John Cena is a wrestler and look at him as an action star because he could well become a good one.

My Overall Rating for this movie is a solid 84%

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Movie Review

Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)

 

Director: Darren Lynn Bousman

Starring: Alexa Vega, Paul Sorvino, Anthony Head, Sarah Birightman, Paris Hilton, Bill Moseley, Nivek Ogre, Terrance Zdunich, Sarah Power

After the a worldwide epidemic a biotech company GenCo offer an organ transplant with the payment set out as a loan. However there is a catch if you miss a re-payment a repoman will come and take the organ back. With the black market offering zydrate a new painkilling drug taken from dead bodies. We enter the world very different to what we are used to seeing.

Our heroine is Shilo (Alexa Vega) and sick young girl who unable to go outside due to her sickness but secretly sneaks off to her mothers grave. Her curiosity of bugs lands her in trouble when she bumps into the GraveRobber (Terrance Zdunich) doing what he does best collecting zydrate, only the alarms go off and all grave trespassers get shot on site. Shilo gets caught but the Repo Man stops them killing her.

The Repo Man (Anthony Head) is Shilo father (but she doesn’t know it)  job is given to him by Rotti (Paul Sorvino) after Repo Man who’s everyday name is Nathan believes he is responsible for Marni his wife’s death. Rotti himself is dying he has to find an heir for his job as head of GenCo and his three children are only disappointing. Amber Sweet (Paris Hilton) addicted to surgery and zydrate. Luigi (Bill Moseley) is hot headed and just kills people in a heart beat. Pavi who wears a different face for each event he attends. also to make Rotti’s job harder his poster girl Blind Mag (Sarah Brightman) wants to leave.

Rotti sets out the talk Shilo into being the new poster girl for his company by promising to cure her sickness, while he sends Nathan out to kill Blind Mag lets the opera start who will be left standing when all the blood is spilt? Who will be in charge of GenCo?

The thing that makes this movie stand out above the rest is the rock opera with everything being sung through out the film with some very catchy songs and some bad ones but hey. Each location is very dark showing how down the world has become. the story is easy to follow told in a simple enough format but also keeps the twists in the story a surprise.

This movie came from a play created by Terrance Zdunich which was meant to have to more in the series a sequel and prequel but due to it poor performance at the box office it looks very unlikely we will get the second and third film.

I personal enjoy this movie as it is original and we don’t get many rock opera movies i will give this movie a 89%

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Movie Review

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%

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Movie Review

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%