Redbox Rentals

Does anyone love the Redbox? Well, it is my best friend when I have to wait an entire weekend for my Netflix movie to arrive (always mail your Netflix by Thursday so you have movies to watch on Saturday and/or Sunday).


After The Dark Knight experience, which is at $300M and still a kicking, I have had a hard time not wishing every movie was another sequel to the Batman masterpiece. Wanted, with Angelina Jolie-Morgan Freeman-and James McAvoy, was a grade above Shoot 'Em Up (terrible, terrible, terrible). In its most ludicrous moments Wanted managed to sustain itself. I enjoyed the movie quite a bit, moreso than Timur Bekmambetov's other recent films (Daywatch and the sequel Nightwatch). He balanced the elements of ridiculous, stylized action with a somewhat formiddable storyline about a group of assassins where one of their members is killed by a rogue associate and the next target is the victim's son, played by McAvoy. The film moves fast and is graphic in some parts, but can be a great Redbox rental when it is released on DVD.

Last night we watched 21. A young MIT student (Jim Sturgess) takes on Las Vegas black jack tables in order to put money away for Harvard Med School. He is joined by a team of other table counters including Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth. Overall, it's an entertaining movie. I briefly lost interest following the repeat of the group conquering Vegas. We got it, they're awesome, they emptied out a load of tables so get to the end. It drug for me; two hours was too long...it needed to be an hour and a half. Another Redbox rental.

Reliving the Glory Days

News came out this week that Tom Cruise was in talks to potentialy revive his role as ace pilot 'Maverick' in a Top Gun sequel. Really? Haven't we had enough of this guy? It isn't surprising after a few actors have recently returned or are in talks to return to the series/characters that made them household names. Here are a few:

Arnold Scwarzenegger: Terminator 3
If you're going to go out, go out with a bang. Well, few remember Arnold's final appearance in films was 'Around the World in 80 Days' with Jackie Chan (horrible movie, I couldn't get through the trailer) instead most think that T3 was his last role before becoming Governor of California. T2, like the original Die Hard, set the bar so high for action films that it is wrong for any to expect those follwing to surpass them. What could be expected was to be entertained and in the case of the Terminator films elaboration on the plot and where the world is headed as John Connor continues his race against the cyborgs. The third Terminator was better the second time I watched it. For the first time viewer don't be surprised that they essentially took every cool scene from the first two and added some CGI. Not bad Arnie, I am glad you threw in the towel for the 4th Terminator film. Take it away Christian Bale, you'll make a fantastic Joh Connor.

Sylvester Stallone: Rocky Balboa and Rambo

Stallone knocked it out of the park as far as I'm concerned. Of all the returns I found that both of the films related to Stallone's superstar characters were fabulous. Oddly enough, Stallone had his hand in the middle of a great deal of the writing and production of each movie. Balboa was terrific because it centered on who was and is as well as how Rocky was coping with life after the loss of his wife and the reality that his professional life was dead. Yeah, it was a bit cheesy but aren't all the Rocky films. The craftsmanship that made the original Rocky a Best Picture winner was modeled in this film, too bad it was the 6th Rocky and not the third: it might have had a chance at something then. Nevertheless, it is worth a watch.

Rambo, which had a limited release this past February, blew me away. I was truly surprised by how good it was. In fact I wanted to watch it again because it happens so fast. You get sucked in and before you know it the credits are rolling. Rambo was the most violent and graphic of the series, maybe of all the macho action movies I've ever seen, but it's mark as a film came from its substance and personality. I wondered what happend to Stallone after he made Get Carter in the 90's. He must have disappeared to Paul Haggis' basement for a few years and taken scrupulpous notes on how to develop an unforgettable screenplay (Haggis wrote 'Crash', 'Million Dollar Baby', 'Casino Royale' and the new Bond film 'Quantum of Solace' as well as 'In the Valley of Elah'). There is a parallel between the first and sixth Rocky film as there is with First Blood (1984) and Rambo (2008). In each of the series' finale you have an aged hero who is confronting the true nature of their existence: one is a fighter and one is a killer. Stallone proved that his acting has blossomed as he dons a few more wrinkles. Put this one in your Netflix que today.


Bruce Willis: John McLane in the Die Hard series

For years there was talk of Willis coming back in some wild hostage situation so that he could save the day again. The orginal Die Hard is potentially the greatest action movie of all time. I've had it on my DVR for five weeks so that I can turn it on when I am in the mood for the mother of all shoot 'em up films (Wedding Crashers is on there as well for the mother of all laughs). In Die Hard 4 (2007) McLane is battling a cyber terrorist and running all over the D.C. area with a hacker at his hip who the bad guys are after. Len Wiseman, who directed the Underworld series, did a great job of putting together some entertaining action sequences but there was something missing from the meal. Where the revival of Balboa and Rambo returned to their roots I felt like McLane was too sure of himself in an unsure world. There were flashes of what made him great in the original, but the film's void of recapturing the overall essence of the character and the grit that we have come to love was never filled. I guess of it was that bad Iwouldn't have purchased it, right? In my defense it was one of those Blockbuster Previously Viewed DVD tables for $4.99. Not a bad film, just didn't hit as well as our previous batters.

Eddie Murphy: In talks to play Axel Foley again in the Beverly Hills Cop series

Poor Eddie needs a hit worse than Amy Winehouse. He is so desperate for one of his films to click with someone other than kids who only know him as Donkey and receive recognition from a film group other than the Razzies (an annual award show for the worst films of the year). Eddie, take notes from Stallone-return to Axel's roots. BHC I and BHC II were fantastic, BHC III...why? Did you need a paycheck or what? The only part worth remembering was Surge (a reprised role played by Bronson Pinchot who is hillarious in the original). Do not pull a Tom Cruise and sign off on a script just because your public image is tainted and your last hit was in the 90's. Bring Axel back, but tell Mike Myers to stay home.

'The Dark Knight' Experience

As the Joker so appropriately stated in the film, "Where do we begin?". Over a year ago photos from the set of the film were floating on the Internet. My childhood-like anticipation has been building ever since. Religiously I have surfed insider sites, floated from unofficial blogs to WGN's website as the film received what seemed like daily coverage from Chicago. I had a layover there some time last year and thought, "Maybe I could find a later flight and show up in the city for a glimpse. They have those sites that list where and when they will be filming. Hmmm...” To no avail I flew home without my firsthand fix of Batman. With all that hype would it live up to expectations?


In January, Heath Ledger passed and concern over what that meant to the film seized the motion picture scene. Fortunately, the movie was in postproduction but the hype and TMZ-like discussions began to balloon. Fast forward to the last month where the trailers have intensified and the marketing has kicked into high gear. Was this going to be another film that ruins itself by exploiting all of the memorable scenes in the trailers? Please, no...

Fandango began selling tickets 3 weeks ago for the IMAX screenings. I got my tickets and began to announce to friends that they should come along ("Please don't let the trailers ruin this film" was on repeat in my mind). You would think it was my film, something I had created and fought to have come to life on the big screen. The refrigerator became a shrine these last few weeks. The tickets to 'Knight' are attached to it and I stare them down as I walk out each morning counting down the moments between me and the hour that I hear their perforated edges divorce one another. Ahhhh, pure symphony.

We arrived at the theater an hour early and every anxious nerd in Houston was cuddling the theater wall leading to the IMAX. Aghhhh!!! I hate sweating when there is A/C it's unlawful, so you can imagine my irritation level, as I have to watch all these people enter the showroom and take the best seats in the house. We were three rows up in the middle. Another aghhh!!! Time was moving in slow motion, go-please start. I went to the bathroom hoping that the sands in the hourglass would fall faster. NOPE! Useless banter took place between us and our fellow row mates and then suddenly: the room went pitch black.

Fasten your seat belts and hold on, this film is not a rollercoaster-this movie launches you into another world. My fears were put to rest almost immediately. Even seeing the opening bank scene for the second time on IMAX (first time preceding 'I Am Legend') I felt like I had slipped into the dream I had been waiting for. I was thrust into a magic carpet ride in Gotham, a buffet of action, suspense, and villainy. The shadows of Gotham are usually Batman's playground, but not this time. From the moment the Joker walks into the kitchen and interrupts the gangster's meeting he steals the show (the magic trick was fantastic in that exchange-so clever, so Joker!).
I couldn't wait for his next sinister move; it felt like Hannibal Lecter all over again. You know he's evil; you know he's psychotic but you that's what intrigues you.



Bale gets better in each scene. His confidence soars to a new level in this picture and yet he loses his grip and you feel him spiraling into a world he never expected. There was never a grey area as far as Bruce Wayne knew, it was always black or white-right or wrong. Not anymore. Batman discovers that he actually does have limits and the Joker will test them.

Dark Knight is a cinematic masterpiece. Kevin Smith called it the Godfather II of comic book films and I completely agree. Sure I was the guy counting every minute before its release, but this film has it all. The cinematography was so smooth, great acting, breathtaking combinations-true movie magic. I loved the lack of CGI. The explosions were authentic, the jumps from buildings were stuntmen and Bale, the batpod wasn't positioned like a computer-generated layover onto the scenes, and how about blowing up the Gotham Hospital? My goodness.

Woven into the intense action sequences was brilliantly performed acting, minus Maggie Gyllenhal: who was atrocious. I have to stop myself from going off on her cardboard performance. She was terible and made Bale feel stale when he was next to her. There was zero chemistry. Gary Oldman was terrific as Lt. then Commissioner Gordon. I really enjoyed seeing him take on a more prominent presence in the film. Nolan did very well when it came to developing Oldman's character amidst the sometimes stale Aaron Eckhart...at least until he becomes Two-Face. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine were magnificent as always, but their screen time was limited due to the importance of allowing the other characters a chance to establish themselves.


Three moments in the film really made it for me: Joker's magic trick, the interrogation scene with Batman and Joker, and Two-Face and Joker meeting in the hospital. Beware this might make it hard to watch another film, the bar has been raised. Definitely worth the 10 bucks, 15 if you're going to the IMAX. What are you waiting for...go, now...see it!(9/10)

Bundle of Reviews

Where do we start? Let's rewind from one of my recent viewings...(these are quick recaps)

Hancock (8/10) Will Smith . Jason Bateman . Charlize Theron


I loved the idea of a superhero who is the furthest thing from what comic books have taught society that they should be. Hancock is the guy you don't want to admit you like, his jokes and language is crude and offensive but in the situations where his behavior is questionable I found myself thinking that I would probably react the same way. The movie was entertaining and had enough of a storyline to preserve the interest outside of the CGI festival that it sometimes felt like. This was Will Smith essentially playing his part in an episode of Heroes. If you love the NBC series then this should satisfy your buds until Season 3 begins in the fall. Definitely worth the 10 bucks.

Wall-E (7/10)



Pixar is like gold. They have hatched another great film that has some interesting commentaries on society and how technology is influencing our behaviors and even our weight. Wall-E is lonely and finds the companionship he seeks, outside of the comrodery he has established with a roach, with Eva. The adventure begins as Wall-E chases Eva into the solar system. With the influences of Apple Inc. in nearly every scene I am sure Steve Jobs is elated to have more branding opportunites even in the youngest minds of America. No worry here as I proceed with my review from my Mac laptop (smile). Nonetheless, Pixar has painted a beautiful and soothing picture on the canvas of the screen. It did drag in some parts but overall it is magic for the old and young.

The Incredible Hulk (5/10) Edward Norton . Liv Tyler . Tim Roth



The aftertaste from Ang lee's Hulk is still in my mouth and that is why I was nervous to see this film. It was too short of a time-frame to attempt to re-invent a franchise. Nolan pulled it off with Batman Begins, but uhh...not so much here. Norton is incredible as always and it was great to see Tim Roth return to a sleezy role. My problem was with that I never really got excited. I was waiting for some ridiculous jump across continents or something and instead every captivating moment had already been given away in the previews. Wait for the DVD.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (3/10) Harrison Ford . Shia LeBouf



Here's the key...remember War of the Worlds? Another Spielberg hype-bomb. This one repeats a similar offense, entertaining first hour and nose-dive during the second hour. That's it: stay for the first 60 minutes and then leave after they arrive in Mexico or whatever. It is true Indiana Jones until that point. After that, well...Redbox is only a dollar.

Iron Man (8/10) Robert Downey, Jr. Terence Howard . Jeff Bridges



Downey, Jr. was on the path to redemption after Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. This sealed the deal for me. He was terrific was the quick witted and brutally sarcastic Tony Stark. The flying scenes were thrilling to watch and I was completedly captivated with the film except for the ending. It felt a little abrupt for me and I thought that the showdown with Bridges' was a bit thrown together. Still a great film, far beyond what I thought it would be. Definitely worth the 10 bucks!