Summer 2009 Follow Up

1) X-Men Origins: Wolverine (see previous review -coming to blu-ray on Sept. 15th)

2) Tranformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (great explosions, killer cinematography - ehhh, 3 out of 5)

3) Star Trek (WOW! Absolutely loved it - a buy! 5 out of 5)

4) Terminator Salvation (entertaining, lots of yelling, high octane action - 4 out of 5)

5) Up (great movie for all, loved the first 20 minutes and then the talking dogs turned me off a bit - 3.5 out of 5)

6) Harry Potter 6 (haven't seen)

7) Public Enemies (saw the first few minutes and loved it, come on it's a M. Mann film...destined to be worth it.)

8) The Hangover (hilarious - Brad Cooper and the fat bearded guy and Andy from 'The Office', like a modern 3 stooges - 4 out of 5)

9) Inglorious Bastards (yet to be seen)

10) The Time Traveler's Wife (yet to be seen)

11) Funny People ( I had to sneak in one more), not so much...I cannot motivate myself to see this, mood swing I guess. Enough with the Seth Rogen movies.

*I did watch G.I. Joe and LOVED it. My expectations were incredibly low and I was swallowed up in the ridiculous action, sound effects and unveiling of live-action characters I obsessed over as a kid, especially Snake Eyes.

'Wolverine' Wows - Did You Expect Anything Less?

Hugh Jackman begins the summer with a couple of bangs. 'Wolverine' is a prequel to the original X-Men film. We find out how Logan became Wolverine and why his past is such a blur. I really enjoyed Liev Schrieber's performance as Sabretooth. He was terrifically evil and unpredictable. Ryan Reynolds delivered his sassy one-liners as always, although I could've used a few more. He has great delivery. The action sequences were jaw-dropping for the most part, except for the disengaging fight scene at the end. I thought it was too drawn out. Nevertheless, a good show for the comic book / X-Men fan in all of us.

3.5 out of 5.

Season Finales 2009

The shows are finishing off here, some for good and some for a few months. Although major networks are closing the doors on their traditional seasons, networks like FX and HBO, open theirs to fantastic series like 'Rescue Me', 'Sons of Anarchy' and 'True Blood'. Here are a few thoughts on the shows I've been following this year:

Prison Break: This show began 4 years ago and was a sure-winner from the beginning. An incredible storyline (genius brother camouflages the blueprint to an elaborate prison escape in tattoos on his entire upper body so that he can rescue his imprisoned brother who was framed for murder). It was sheer suspense from episode to episode. If you've never caught the first season then treat yourself to a weekend with Lincoln and Micheal. Unfortunately, the show took a hard left and never came back to its original form. This Friday, the series finale will attempt to wrap up the mystery behind The Company and end the brother's seemingly endless chase for freedom. 

Heroes: Another terrific show that has rollercoastered into a mess. 'Heroes' seemed as if it could do no wrong and then they lost one of their original writers. Although he has returned, the show just keeps catapulting itself into story lines that expire to quickly or are a desperate attempt to fill an episode requirement to NBC. Please come back strong in season 4: I am wavering on this one.

24: Jack will ultimately survive an entertaining Day 7. Not the best of the seasons, but a far cry from the pathetic Day 6. This one has seen a lot of action and loss / return of original characters. Is Tony really the bad guy? Is Nina hiding behind the scenes?  

The Office: Thank goodness 'The Michael Scott Paper Company' scenario is over. That was an anguished man's  pitch for change on the show. Terrible and not the comedic brilliance we expect from the writers, with patches of greatness just not enough. Last week's 'Cafe Disco' episode was pretty funny...still lacking the 'stuff' of the previous seasons. It is hard though to continue to deliver humor at such a high level consistently: few show have done it so it's OK for a small vacation but come back soon!

Lost: Has this show redeemed itself or what? I love what they have done with 'Lost' since the story hit a speed bump a few seasons back. The season finale is on Wednesday and I am sure there is a cliffhanger that will leave us speechless just as the lit hatch did in season 2. Watch this show, it is a worthwhile addiction that the master J.J. Abrams gave birth to. 

Rescue Me: 5 episodes down, 17 to go. Superb acting and witty dialogue keep me into this one, even if the drama has died down a bit. Micheal J. Fox has made a guest appearance this season in a terrific role. Glad to see him back on the tube. 

Mad Men: I just started this one and quickly found out what the buzz is all about. My affinity for 'Mad Men' two-fold: its relation to the industry I work in as well as the sales environment that accompanies many of the episode's story lines. 'Men' follows the lives of advertising executives who office on NYC's Madison Avenue during the 1960's. I finished season 1 and cannot wait to begin the second one with the third wrapping up on AMC soon. 

On The Line (Auf der Strecke)

This is a belated Oscar review for you, this time it is the German short film 'On The Line'. It is an emotional character study that follows a retail store security guard who daydreams about the young lady who works in the book section of the store. Unbeknown st to the woman his day is spent studying her from every camera angle he can find in the monitoring room.  We watch through his eyes until a tragedy unites them. Touching and yet unforgettable because of the tear it causes in the fairytale persona. Absolutely brilliant. The worst part is how quickly it passes. A great piece that leaves you wanting more. 

4 out of 5. 

John Adams

Paul Giamatti stars as John Adams. It begins as a late night in Boston just before the 'Boston Massacre' takes place. We follow Adams into his historical rise to political and social mouthpiece of the colonies, namely Massachusetts. Terrifically acted and masterfully captured with a portal through history that explores our forefather's emotions. Tom Hanks has brought another magnificent reflection on American history to HBO Films. 

4 out of 5.

Summer 2009

What are you excited about this Summer Movie Season? It is time for my 10 most anticipated films of 2009's summer line-up.

1) X-Men Origins: Wolverine 

2) Tranformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

3) Star Trek

4) Terminator Salvation

5) Up

6) Harry Potter 6

7) Public Enemies

8) The Hangover

9) Inglorious Bastards

10) The Time Traveler's Wife

11) Funny People ( I had to sneak in one more)

Michael Bay Tribute

There's a reason all guys flock to see his films, here's 2 minutes of why we love Bay's films.

ShoWest 2009 Michael Bay Tribute from Bay Films/Michael Bay Dot Com on Vimeo.

Rabbits, Octapi, Flooding, Grateful Dead and Bathroom Love...Wow!

This year's Oscars featured 5 movies in the Best Animated Short Film category: Oktapodi, Presto, Lavatory - Lovestory, This Way Up and La Maison En Petites Cubes. Each an absolute treat to watch, but my favorites are different than that of the Academy. They are as follows:

1) Presto: Pixar has mastered animation alone, but their short films are always fantastic. This year's, Presto (seen before Wall-E), was my favorite of their quickly expanding portfolio. A rabbit is intent on getting the carrot he so deserves but his magician is focused on completing their performance before the meal begins. It reminded me of a Tom & Jerry episode because of the physical obstacles that the magician endures in order to keep the show running without any delays. Painfully hillarious! 4.5 out of 5.

2) Oktapodi: This was 2 and a half minutes of visual poetry: beautiful and fun. Two octapi are tracking each other as one is picked up from the market by a chef and they endure a captivating ride in pursuit of freedom. Short, sweet and wonderful! 4 out of 5.

3) La Maison En Petites Cubes: Due to the rise in water, an old man must once again elevate his living quarters to avoid flooding. Amidst the relocation he drops one of his smoking pipes down a hatch that leads to the many levels of elevation that he has experienced over the years. He puts on scuba gear and journeys through his old living spaces as well as special moments in his life in a very touching film by Kunio Kato. Great piece! 4 out of 5.

4) This Way Up: A father and son are delivering a coffin holding an elderly woman and the mishaps they encounter along the way are comedic. A bit creepy and what feels like a blended dream of Tim Burton and Jerry Garcia ends up becoming a warm laugh of family adventures. 3 out of 5.

5) Lavatory - Love Story: A lonely booth attendant sits and reads the paper in a monotonous job that calls for nothing more than a jar being available for coins and an Olympian cleaning job of the bathroom once in awhile. One day though the attendant notices some beautiful flowers which bring color to her lifeless world. Now her search for the secret admirer and true love encompass her every move. I got a little bored on this one, but it was still entertaining enough for a few minutes. 3 out of 5. 

*To view these search for the titles on iTunes or You Tube, that's where I watched them.

Escape 2 Africa

I loved to watch it, watch it. Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa is the sequel to 2005's animated blockbuster in which a group of animals escape the NYC zoo only to land on Madagascar. 'Africa' picks up with the group of animal friends using a wrecked plane, apparently fixed by the penguins (who are my favorite part of the original), to return home. Upon their exit trip from Madagascar a storm comes and misdirects them to Africa, in which we discover how Alex (Ben Stiller) ended up at the NYC zoo. Coupled with the voice talent of Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Cedric the Entertainer, Sacha Boron Cohen, Alec Baldwin, and the late Bernie Mac, 'Madagascar 2' keeps you engaged and in hysterics. 

Good laughs and the penguins return with their usual antics. My only qualm with the film, and Dreamworks, is their choice to integrate shots of adult humor into their animated lineup so that a wider appeal can be spread to audiences (Shrek series, Flushed Away and pretty much the Dreamworks Animated line-up). I guess it should be expected by now.  Still a very funny show, no movie's perfect: 4 out of 5. 

Bangok Dangerous'ly Bad

'Bangkok Dangerous' is Cage's attempt to return to an action film that flex' s his hair (which looks like a matted mop) as much as his sappy acting skills. This film does not merit more than a paragraph clarifying that Cage is a hit-man whose blurred morals and professional commitments intersect in a country that propels the movie into what feels like an aged Jean-Claude Van Damme flick. DO NOT WASTE A SECOND ON THIS ONE, trust me.