DrewAlexanderR1's Reviews

Creed III (2023)

6/10

1 March 2023

Warning: Spoilers

I'll start first by saying that I had a lot of fun seeing a premiere screening of Creed 3. The score, cinematography, and acting of Jonathan Majors and Mila Davis-Kent deserve recognition and praise.

The movie follows the journey of Adonis hanging up his gloves for retirement to spend time with his family and promote the fighters of his gym. However, he is forced to get back in the ring after unfinished business from the past in the form of childhood friend Damian Anderson comes back for what's his.

Despite some strong sequences from Adonis's past and the setup of Damien coming back to take the crown, the story falls short on the promise of its themes and the main characters.

The main themes are healthily processing emotions, communication, and fighting when it's necessary.

Adonis believes in fighting as the answer to problems while Bianca wants him to embrace communication and processing his emotions. In the end, it seems like Adonis embraces the higher ground, but he throws it away at the slightest provocation from Damien. He defends his pride rather than his beliefs in the end and takes the high ground only after the battle is over.

Damien's character comes off as justified for his actions, and despite a few moments of playing dirty and some unwarranted taunts, he never feels like the villain.

Aside from this breakdown of story, there was inexplicable decisions made with supporting characters. Many received way more screen time than seemed warranted, and Amara and Bianca's characters suffered as a result.

Amara's story arc got completely dropped, and Bianca, after making a compelling argument for communication and processing emotion, just rides along with Adonis's decision after his pride was poked by Damien.

(Spoiler) *It would have been interesting if Adonis offered a full apology when he was live with Stephen A Smith and Damien threw that apology back at Adonis. Instead we got Adonis not wanting to talk on live television and opting for a fight when provoked.* (Spoiler)

The film followed in the footsteps of Rocky sequels (in it's own way) and had many enjoyable sequences. However, it could have used some more work on the script level to have it hit on all levels.

29 out of 45 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Arrow: Eleven-Fifty-Nine (2016)

Season 4, Episode 18

3/10

Predictable and a Little Insulting

20 April 2016

Warning: Spoilers

Alright I'm just going to go through the good and then the bad.

The Lian Yu parts of the episode were well done as they tend to be.

Other than that the only real light of the episode was with Laurel and the DA position. That could of be something that works out great.

And now I'll get to were the episode let the viewers down.

The Andy part of the story was underwhelming. It was obvious he was on Dark's side and the feud that ensued between Oliver and Diggle was poor writing.

And to top that off the "death" of Laurel Lance is a cheap shot to get tears going. The last thing Laurel says to Oliver before the camera cuts from the scene is that she wouldn't take the DA job because she couldn't stop being Black Canary. And then she asks Oliver for a favor.

It's obvious that she want Oliver to fake her death because her identity is compromised from being brought into the hospital in costume. She's going to be fine next episode and Oliver is going to apologize and say he had to make it seem real.

For the most part this episode was not up to par for the viewers.

The show still has potential but they need to step it up for the remaining episodes.

4 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The King's Speech (2010)

9/10

Sets the Tone From the Start

10 September 2015

The first scene of The King's Speech depicts Albert George (Colin Firth), soon to be King George VI, as he makes a speech at Wembley. The direction and cinematography of this shows the story the film will tell. Trembling hands holding the speech papers, out of focus shots of the speech's words, and stepping up to the podium seeing the crowd through the microphone, this film is about King George's struggle to overcome his fear of public speaking.

This is a fear that many people can identify with and the film does an excellent job of bringing that fear to the screen in many different ways. The editing, sound, and cinematography combine to give the film a depth that should be studied and appreciated.

The acting is another attribute to the film that give it Best Picture quality. Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, and Geoffrey Rush give arguably the best performance of their respective careers. The screenplay and dialogue gives these actors the resources to bring the story to life and keep the audience invested and entertained.

The King's Speech won Best Picture in 2011 and deserved it. It showed quality in all aspects of the medium of film. It seemed like everyone came together and gave their best to make this film special. This is a Best Picture that won't be overlooked. Some of the award winning films are lost in the past but this one will remain in the minds of those who've seen it.

1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Argo (2012)

8/10

Made for Best Picture

9 September 2015

Argo is one of those extremely well scripted movies that doesn't have much surprise or creativity. This true story easily translates to the screen and was done so without any faults. This film didn't take any risks and was a shoe in for Best Picture at the Oscars because of the size of the story and efficiency of the final product.

The film tells the story of the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran, during 1980, from the point of view of a CIA agent, Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck), who is tasked to come up with an rescue operation for six Americans. The idea for the operation is for Mendez to go to Iran under the guise of a Hollywood Producer scouting an area for a futuristic Sci-Fi flick. He would then make contact with the six Americans and bring them back under the guise of his crew.

This film received a lot of praise and certainly deserved it. Ben Affleck has shown yet again he can direct a superb film. He also proves that given the right story he can still show his acting chops. Along side him in this territory are Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, and John Goodman who portray their roles expertly and with gusto.

Argo while being a simple story, is one that will reach a wide audience. When you watch this film you will have a smile on your face at the end. It gives you that feel good vibe that Hollywood loves to instill in its movies. There were nine movies nominated for Best Picture in 2013 and Argo won. It won because it was made for Best Picture.

0 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Hardball (2001)

8/10

Reality and Entertainment

5 September 2015

Hard Ball is a slice of life film about an aimless young man given the opportunity to make a difference in the life of ten young boys from the projects of Chicago. Conor O'Neill (Keanu Reeves) is an addict to gambling and this weakness lands him in a spot of trouble where he has to pay off two bookies and needs money fast. He reaches out to an old friend, who's in business, for cash and agrees to coach a little league team for the money.

The film goes on to tell the story of O'Neill and the boys as they change each others perspectives and end up helping each other become better people. John Gatins (Coach Carter, Flight) begins his writing career with this as his second feature film. It is a straight forwards predictable story but it has a special quality about it.

The film stays away from making things bigger than they are and opts for a realistic outlook on the lives of the characters involved. Keanu Reeves gives a performance that not many would attribute to his successful career, but is a performance that shouldn't be overlooked. Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle, Fruitvale Station) is a one of the kids and gives a performance that foreshadows his career to come.

Hard Ball, while not an Oscar worthy film, is one that will lift you up without asking for the suspension of belief. You don't need to put aside unrealistic happenings in the film because it doesn't try to be something its not. This film is there to give you insight into a story that you don't see everyday. It leans towards reality rather than entertainment and achieves both.

10 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Gone Girl (2014)

8/10

Basic Instinct Would Be Proud

2 September 2015

Gone Girl is a mystery thriller that would make fans of Basic Instinct proud. It has the vibe of the 1992 film and does an excellent job of keeping the viewer following the story as a bystander from the film. When events unfold the audience is lead to have the view point of those watching the story on the news. You rarely have time to think ahead as the film has so much action and information relayed in the present.

The film follows Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) as he discovers that his wife is missing and the resulting media attention to the disappearance. As more and more clues turn up events cause the viewer to question the husbands role in his wife's (Rosamund Pike) disappearance.

This story is expertly written to keep the audience on their toes throughout the entire film. David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club) directs the film to perfection. He creates an atmosphere of suspense and doubt that grips the viewer and never lets go. Neil Patrick Harris and Tyler Perry give great performances that show the versatility of their acting skills. Ben Affleck gives another top notch performance to add to the list of his recent hits while Rosamund Pike steals the show.

If you are looking for an intelligent thriller that views like you are reading a book make sure to add Gone Girl to your list. Watch it with a friend or during the daytime because a late night solo viewing might test your nerve.

3 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

October Sky (1999)

10/10

Amazing Uplifting Period Piece

29 August 2015

October Sky tells the true story of Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal). He is a high school boy from a coal mining town in West Virginia. Unless you were able to get a football scholarship the chances of getting out of Coalwood were small. Homer does not fit the bill of a football player and refuses to become another miner. Instead he sets his sights on what's above the earth rather than below it. In the wake of the first Sputnik launch Homer decides to take up rocketry without the approval of his coal miner father John (Chris Cooper).

This film is a small slice of life depicting the perseverance of Homer and his friends to make something of their lives. They receive little support from the majority of the town members who believe that there's not much else to life besides mining coal and playing football. October Sky takes the dreams of four high school boys and inspires those who believe that you can become something bigger than the life society deems for you.

The screenplay is well written, the acting top notch, and the story is bigger than the setting. This small period piece is amazingly uplifting and can touch a wide audience. It is a family movie and is one that all can enjoy regardless of age.

I first saw this film in theaters when I was eight. Over fifteen years later I still find this movie as inspirational as the first time I saw it. I keep it on my shelf under movies that will lift me up. It is simple but extraordinary at the same time. This little gem should be on everyones list to watch. I think it is a movie that will never be outdated and one that will stay with all those that have seen it.

2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Fantastic Four (2015)

3/10

Far From Fantastic

28 August 2015

I waited to see this movie in theaters to have the experience by myself without others' reactions imposed on me. I didn't read too much about the film other than it was bad. I didn't delve into the reasons why it was bad because I wanted to give the movie a clean shot.

It was terrible. The film seemed like a long TV pilot episode that should never for any reason see the light of air time or ever be considered to develop. The dark story that the film was going for didn't work out. The movie was only an hour and forty minutes. There was no time to focus and develop characters and story. It seemed as if the movie had scenes that were haphazardly cut together without any sort of flow or structure.

The director Josh Tank (Chronicle) made this look like a comic geek's student film with a big budget. Tank came out and said that the studio forced harsh restrictions on him, but even if this movie was an hour longer I don't think it would help. Not only is the story terrible the dialogue is cringe-worthy. The actors in this film seemed hollow and shallow. Since the dialogue is so bad I don't think they were given anything to work with.

Now the one thing I read that gave the movie some credit was it's special effects. There was one scene, the new dimension, that had decent effects and you see it in the trailer. The rest looked like today's CGI techniques were used on a Windows 95.

While Fantastic Four had potential to be another great superhero flick it failed disastrously. What the film ultimately lacked was direction and plot. The story felt forced and chopped together; and, the actors seemed unable to bring energy to their characters with the dialogue. The CGI wasn't good and there's not much left to have any positives. Some of it was entertaining but it was far from fantastic.

4 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Notting Hill (1999)

9/10

One of the Best

27 August 2015

Notting Hill is one of the best romantic comedies out there. The reason for its status is the well written story, the dialogue, and the actors.

The film tells the story of a simple travel bookshop owner (Hugh Grant) who meets a famous movie star (Julia Roberts) when she walks in his shop. And it goes on to show the resulting relationship that starts from this point.

The story follows the guidelines of most romantic comedies but it does so with its own flair. The dialogue is very sharp and the characters' conversations with each other are either thought provoking or laugh inducing.

The chemistry between the actors on this film was perfect. Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant dazzled in the lead roles. They make the audience care for each of the character's storyline no matter where the story takes them. The supporting cast compliments the main characters immensely. Rhys Ifans as Spike, Hugh Grant's flatmate, is comedic genius.

Notting Hill is one of the best romantic comedies because it is so much more than just that label. The film sucks in the audience and at the end gives the viewer something more than just laughs and a happy ending. It gives the viewer insight and hope. I don't want to explain why because you should watch the film and find out for yourself.

8 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Double Indemnity (1944)

10/10

Film Noir Classic

21 August 2015

Double Indemnity is a movie that is like the periodic table to science. This movie is absolutely essential to the medium of film. It is one of those flicks that will always stand the test of time. It's a film to study as well as one to love and enjoy. It is a muse for a lot of films that have been made since this 1944 masterpiece.

The story is about an insurance representative, Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), who falls in love with a woman, Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck). She wants him to help her murder her husband and the bonus behind this plan is that the death of Mr. Dietrichson will trigger a heavy life insurance payout. The crime is carefully inspected by Neff's boss, insurance investigator, Barton Keyes (Edward G. Robinson).

This film was nominated for seven Oscars for a reason. The acting is superb and is to a standard that modern audiences will appreciate. The directing of Billy Wilder (Some Like It Hot, Sunset Blvd.) makes it film noir classic. And the screenplay is one of the best that Hollywood has produced.

Double Indemnity is a film that everyone should watch. It should be something that should be passed down from generation to generation. It is a perfect film in so many ways and one that should be held in the highest regard by all who watch it. This film defines 10 out of 10.

3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

7/10

Sherlock Holmes Meets James Bond

20 August 2015

Not knowing what the television show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is like I went into the theater with the background of being an avid Guy Ritchie fan.

If you are a fan of his dry wit humor and his pacey action this film is for you. The film is set during the early 1960s and the catalyst is a criminal organization getting hold of a scientist who has the capabilities of building a nuclear bomb. The unique aspect of this if that the scientist can make the bomb with ease that the USA and Russia know not. This threat is to be dealt with by top agents from both sides: Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and Illya Kiryakin (Armie Hammer).

Even though I am a Guy Ritchie fan I was put off a bit by the casting of the main roles. I thought that Henry Cavill, who's claim to fame is being Superman, did not have the acting chops to pull off a believable and likable secret agent. And the counterpart to this thought was Armie Hammer, who played the Winklevoss brothers in The Social Network, another actor I thought untested. However, both pleasantly surprised and showed good acting chops.

The film's strong points are the action and the chemistry of the cast. The story is a bit straight forwards but the direction is superb. There are some great shots that shouldn't go unnoticed. All in all the film had the jazziness of a James Bond film and the wit of Sherlock Holmes. It's definitely not a huge hit but it could garner a sequel or two. Guy Ritchie gets another thumbs up for this latest film.

4 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Big Chill (1983)

8/10

Defines A Generation

19 August 2015

The Big Chill tells the story of eight friends who come together after the suicide of one of the best of them. They are all searching for something they lost. They find that all they needed was each other.

This film launched the careers of a lot of stars. The best performances in the movie were some of the actors and actresses that mainstreamed Hollywood for years to com. Glen Close, Jeff Goldblum, Tom Berenger, Kevin Kline, and William Hurt were the best.

The movie defines a generation. And the movie defines a part of life that we all reach where the questions we ask have no answers.

The Big Chill is a great film to watch when you are looking for happiness in a sad place. One of my friends died recently and I stumbled upon this movie soon afterward. It is a movie that never should be remade because along with defining a generation it speaks across generations. I have a feeling that this movie will find you when you need it. Just don't pass it by.

11 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

8/10

No Need for a Retelling

17 August 2015

This Universal Picture tells the story of Moses from the Book of Exodus. There have been many adaptations of this story to the big screen, most recently Exodus of Gods and Men, but this animated picture will forever rank number one.

The story is amazingly well written with flowing scenes and excellent dialogue. The voice actors on cast were superb: Val Kilmer and Moses, Ralph Fiennes as Rameses and Patrick Stewart as Seti were the standouts. Michelle Pfeiffer as Tzipporah, Sandra Bullock as Miriam, Jeff Goldblum as Aaron, and Danny Glover as Jethro were amazing compliments to the cast.

While other renditions of the story of Moses and the Exodus play heavily on the violence in the story and the plagues as a centerpiece, The Prince of Egypt focuses on the relationship between Moses and Rameses and how Moses handles the mission as bringer of God's wrath to the place he once called home.

The Prince of Egypt does not shy away from slavery and crimes against the slaves that occurred. Quite admirably it depicts it in a very artistic way. The scenery is top notch and the music numbers are quite good. Many may think of this movie as one to let the kids see but for those adults who watch it they will be happy they did. After seeing film there's there's no need for a retelling.

1 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Hancock (2008)

6/10

Caught at the Warning Track

16 August 2015

Hancock was an attempt at something different in super hero genre. And it deserves applause for this. Instead of focusing on an earth threatening villain the film focuses on the villain within the hero.

The superhero by make not by consensus, Hancock (Will Smith), fights bad guys when he feels like it. He does as much damage to the city he's in as to the bad guys he stops. The majority of the civilians of the city view him as a cause of disturbance rather than a preventer. Hancock has accepted this general opinion and does not care to change it until one of the people he saves, Ray (Jason Bateman), wants to help him.

The film has a great premise and does well for the majority of the movie in executing it. However, the movie falters when it attempts to tell Hancock's past and bring it to the forefront. The movie had a great thing going but when the ball was almost out of the park, it got snagged on the warning track.

Hancock is still a fun movie to watch, but you will most likely be disappointed with where the writers take the story. Will Smith delivers a top notch performance that is vastly under rated. He gives life to the character and made the viewer care about his plight. This film is worth renting or watching on TV, but it's not one for the collectors shelf.

1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Tropic Thunder (2008)

8/10

Oscar Worthy

15 August 2015

This film is arguably one of the best comedies of the 2000's. Ben Stiller after having a lull in his career came back strong with Tropic Thunder. He directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen. The cast for the movie was spot on. It brought back Jack Black back to the spot light and allowed juggernauts Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise to give iconic performances.

The plot of Tropic Thunder is that it's a movie about a movie. A group of actors set out to make a big budget Viet Nam film. However, they end up being put in the thick of a drug zone that forces the group to assume the roles they are playing.

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) is an actor who use to be hot and now finds himself trying to save his career as leader of the team. Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr) is an Australian with multiple Academy Awards who undergoes pigment surgery to play his role. With the addition of Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), and Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel) as the rest of the team they set out to make movie history.

This film was nominated for one Oscar. It went to Robert Downey Jr. While this was the only Oscar it was nominated for it could have been nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Since the Academy doesn't often nominate comedies it didn't happen.

That aside the film is a work of genius. I have watched this movie year after year and still find it funny as I did that day in the theaters. Tropic Thunder gives you a chance to laugh at the Hollywood depiction of making a movie and gives you the chance to appreciate the talent that went into some of the performances. All together this film is just a great chance to let yourself laugh and have a good time.

3 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Oz the Great and Powerful (2013)

8/10

A Perfect Prequel

14 August 2015

Oz the Great and Powerful tells the story of how the great wizard Oz from the Wizard of Oz came to be. It follows the young Oz (James Franco) as he is swept away to an enchanted land ending up in the middle of a power struggle between three witches. The young Oz is a trickster who deceives those he wants and/or needs for his own ends. This attitude has consequences and those consequences are what drives the story forward.

James Franco plays the young Oz brilliantly. The character is a shallow small time magician and the story shows how he comes full circle to be the Great and Powerful Oz from the Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately, his change happens after taking a grievous toll. The three witches who Oz comes to affect are Theodora (Mila Kunis), Rachel Weisz (Evanora), and Glinda (Michelle Williams). The three play their parts and give great performances to add to their resumes.

For those who watched and loved the Wizard of Oz in their childhood, this movie is the perfect prequel. Watching it as an adult was a treat. The writers did well to adapt the script to make it a worthy prequel. In addition, the movie does well to entertain both children and adults. It slots in perfectly as the precursor to the Wizard of Oz.

The film didn't have the best reception but I encourage you to ignore this. The directing is probably the weakest link in this movie, but the story and actors more than makeup for this. The character development is amazing and shows exactly why things were they way they are in the Wizard of Oz. Simply stated Oz the Great and Powerful is truly a prefect prequel.

45 out of 60 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Vertigo (1958)

9/10

A Thriller for Today

13 August 2015

Vertigo is one of the perfect examples of a film that will always stand the test of time and one that should never be remade. Alfred Hitchcock is a genius and has many excellent films under attached to his resume. Psycho is the one synonymous with his name but Vertigo is arguably his best directed piece.

Scottie Ferguson (Jimmy Stewart) is a retired detective who dwells over a failed case. An old friend, Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore), goes to Scottie and asks him to investigate his wife, Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak), who he thinks is cheating on him. Scottie accepts with the hope this will allow him to put the past to rest, but it turns into a twisted obsession that engulfs him.

This film was glossed over at the Academy Awards in 1959. But today the film will always stick out for its directing, the superb screenplay, and the amazing performance of Jimmy Stewart. These factors make this film a classic and give it top shelf status even still, today.

Vertigo sets the bar for a lot of thrillers today and many directors and writers have taken lessons and paid homage to this film. If you haven't seen this film yet, don't read anything about it. Go into the movie and get lost in where the story takes you.

5 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Conversation (1974)

9/10

Coppola's Unseen Masterpiece

12 August 2015

Almost everyone who has some sort of knowledge about film will talk with revere about Francis Ford Coppola's God Father's or be quick to say "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" when asked about Apocalypse Now. But many will stare blankly when you ask have you seen The Conversation.

This small move based in San Francisco is about a surveillance expert who is tasked so spy on a young couple and record their conversation as they take a walk around Union Square. Harry Caul (Gene Hackman), the surveillance expert hired for the job, is a paranoid man on a normal day. He doesn't let anyone in his apartment and talks to clients only from pay phones. However, his mental limits are tested when he thinks that murder is being planned in his newest case.

This film is superbly written and directed by Coppola. It begs the viewer to watch it multiple times in order to grasp every last detail. It has great performances from John Cazale, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest, and a young Harrison Ford. Gene Hackman leads this group with one of his best performances in film.

The Conversation is a film that should the first thing mentioned when talking about Francis Ford Coppola. It may not have the grand scale of the the Godfathers or the backdrop of Vietnam in Apocalypse, but it is arguably Coppola's best. Upon every re-watch of this film you always see something you missed the last viewing. It is truly a masterpiece in every sense of the word. And those who missed it should make it a priority to make it seen.

3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

8/10

Reminiscent of Scream

11 August 2015

I'm not a big fan of horror movies other than the classics. I went to go see this movie with my film class for a field trip. I was curious because my professor was not one to recommend okay movies and I didn't hear much about this film prior to seeing it. I went in with no knowledge of what I was going to view.

And I was pleasantly surprised. I had a great time and thought it was a great concept that was excellently executed. It played on a lot of the classic horror films but made its own statement. It turned the movie on its head reminiscent of how Scream had its character discussing horror films and situations in its movie.

Cabin in the Woods is about five college friends who take a vacation at a remote cabin in the woods. What they discover is the events that unfold are the making of someone setting them up for a trap. You see both sides of the coin and it makes for a very entertaining watch.

While the movie is a horror film there are plenty of laughs throughout. Even though you are aware of everything going on you still feel for the character's plight. This movie is a very intelligent film that wouldn't appear so on the surface. It is a great movie to watch with your friends. You will definitely be thinking and talking about it after it's done.

1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Incredibles (2004)

9/10

Fun for the Whole Family

10 August 2015

This film for Pixar has to be one of their greatest achievements. Many of their movies revolve around animals who have feelings, but The Incredibles is a nice change of pace from that usual plot line.

The Incredibles tells the story of the Parr family, a family of undercover superheroes, who try to fit in to suburban life after being told by the government they most go into hiding. Some of the superheroes wish the old days of crime fighting would return while some wish that they could be normal rather than just pretending to be.

Stakes are raised as the film continues to show the stories of each character and how they react to the events that happen around them. The film has great characters that are more than two dimensional story conveyors. The writing is superb and will entertain adults just as much as it will kids.

The Incredibles is a fresh breath of air brought to animated films by writer/director Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, Ratatouille). The story he made for the audience is one that is intricate and deep. It deserves to be remembered as one of the Pixar greats.

2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Evolution (2001)

6/10

Good Fun

7 August 2015

Every time I watch Evolution after a year or two of not viewing it I expect the film not to hold up. Thankfully I'm wrong about this and find myself laughing throughout the movie. That's not to say that this film ranks top tier in comedies of all time, but it definitely lodges itself as a guilty pleasure comedic flick.

The story is about Ira (David Duchovny) and Harry (Orlando Jones), two community college professors, who are the first to investigate a meteor that crashed to Earth. The meteor brings with it basic alien life forms. Wayne (Seann William Scott), a want to be firefighter who discovered the meteor, and Allison (Juilianne Moore), a klutzy government scientist, join Ira and Harry to combat the alien organisms that have been rapidly evolving since their arrival on Earth.

It is a simple script with not many twists or turns, but the thing that gets me every time is the chemistry between the actors. Duchovny, Jones, and Moore are the heavy weights in this film and they bring great skill to the table.

Wile it is a straight forward film with not a lot of surprises the one thing that you can depend on is great situational dialogue. The movie doesn't rely on gross out humor or shock value but rather on well crafted scenes that allow for mature comedic dialogue. And at the end of the day I'm always down to watch this movie once a year just for some good fun.

1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)

7/10

Not That Dark

6 August 2015

I skirted around watching Wristcutters: A Love Story for awhile because of the name. I think that the film would be watched on a larger scale if it was named after the short story it's based on: Kneller's Happy Campers, or just Happy Campers.

That being said I knew I wanted to watch this film after reading many reviews saying it was a dark comedy. And after watching it I think it would be better defined as a quirky comedy. It deals with a dark issue but it doesn't do it in a dark way. I found most of the humor to be more odd ball comedy than dark.

The story is about Zia (Patrick Fugit) who commits suicide. When he gets to the afterlife reserved for people who commit suicide he learns that his girlfriend, Desiree (Leslie Bibb), is a recent addition as well. With the help of Eugene (She Whigham) and Mikal (Shanyn Sossamon) he goes a journey to find her.

I found this movie to be very up-lifting, contradictory to the name, but again I think Happy Campers would be a better fit for the title. If this film has popped on on your radar for whatever reason don't skirt around it because of the title or subject matter. You will be pleasantly surprised and feel oddly happy after watching it.

1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Super 8 (2011)

7/10

Bring Back Sci-Fi

5 August 2015

Science Fiction is a genre that its hard to pull off. I'd put it on the same difficulty scale as Comedies. Every person has their own expectations and preferences when it comes to these genres. Some people will be impressed by the material while others will scoff at it. Super 8 received mixed reviews and I think that could be attributed to different people having different expectations.

For me this Sci-Fi renewed my faith in the genre. Amidst the many remakes, sequels, and superhero movies there haven't been much show of original stories in recent years. Super 8 took a few ingredients from other successful Sci-Fi films and blended them together to make a up to date recipe. Now some people might not like this, but I think J.J. Abrams (Lost, Star Trek) did an excellent job bringing back Sci-Fi. It may be an old wine but it's in a new bottle.

Super 8 follows the story of Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) and his friends as they try to make a short film. While the group shoot at nearby train station they experience an event that they know they need to keep secret. After the incident mysterious happenings occur in their town and the kids realize that what they experienced might have more consequences than the single incident.

The film impresses on a lot of levels. The writing and the directing is something you come to expect from J.J. Abrams. And the cinematography is excellent. But what stands out are the performances. Joel Courtney does a solid job of leading the film at such a young age. And opposite him Elle Fanning (Deja Vu, Babel) makes her presence known as Alice Dainard. A nice surprise is Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) playing Joe Lamb's father.

All in all this film did a decent job of doing a well celebrated genre justice. Your preferences may be different to what this film offers, but it is definitely one to watch to see if it does meet your expectations.

2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

The Imitation Game (2014)

9/10

Well Done Drama

4 August 2015

The Imitation Game is the kind of film where it hits all the right notes. The script is excellent, the actors brilliant, and the directing on point. There are no real surprises to this story, but it pleases from the quality of an interesting biopic.

The film is set in World War II England, and follows the story of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley), and other code-breakers as they attempt to break the Nazi's code machine, enigma. The film starts with events from after the war, where Alan Turing is arrested from homosexual activity, and flashes back to his time during the war and his time at school as a boy.

The Imitation Game reminded me of Argo in terms of the type of film it is. They are both about an event from history that most people probably haven't read too much about. And they are great stories and translate to the screen very well. The Imitation Game had a great chance for Best Picture because it did everything just right. It did not win because there were a few more daring films in the mix.

Quite simply though, The Imitation Game is a well done drama.

3 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Gangster Squad (2013)

4/10

So much talent, so little return.

3 August 2015

Gangster Squad was one of the biggest let downs I've experienced at the movie theaters. With the names: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Michael Peña, and Giovanni Ribisi attached to this project I assumed that this film would be a huge hit. But do you know the saying about assumptions?

The film is based on the story of Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn), an east coast gangster who brought organized crime out west to LA, and John O'Mara (Josh Brolin), a cop hired to assemble a team to take down Cohen by any means possible. This included using violence without punishment from the law. This premise bodes well for a good gangster flick but doesn't deliver on any front.

The acting was fairly bad, the plot was unoriginal, the dialogue poor, and the directing terrible. There were only a few scenes in the film that I actually enjoyed, but most of the time I was either cringing in my seat or stifling a laugh.

Gangster Squad had its release pushed back because of the movie theater shootings at the Dark Knight Rises. They had to do extensive re-shoots because a scene in the movie depicted gunmen coming out blazing from behind a theater screen shooting into the crowd. Rumors stated that removing this scene was like pulling a thread from a sweater. But regardless of what the movie could of been it ultimately was a flop.

1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

DrewAlexanderR1

Reviews

Tell Your Friends

Recently Viewed