Very well done. The re-make is a hit with the high quality visual effects and a successful modern portrayal of the original story.
rating: B+ stars: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jaden Smith genre: sci-fi year released: 2008
The story begins when astobiologist Helen Benson (Jennifer Connelly) is taken from her house to consult for the government on a top-secret issue. The journey leads her back home to her stepson (Jaden Smith) where he gets caught up in the issue and goes along for the ride. The secret matter is the landing of a giant sphere in Central Park with a giant robot and an alien, Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) who transformers into a human to communicate with them. He is there to decide if the human race is worth saving. To figure this out he ends up going on the run with the Bensons where he gets his ultimate decision as to what to do with the humans. Everything comes down to the last seconds to make a very intense ending to the story.
I thought the film was very successful. I had just seen it for the first time last week and was not expecting to enjoy it very much. Much to my surprise it was very well filmed and the story developed nicely. The film had a very strong cast. In the film it is very easy to get annoyed with Jaden Smith’s character, but he does an outstanding job. He has done another fantastic job. Keanu Reeves was a surprise. I don’t really like him as an actor but he fits the role well making his character very interesting. Connelly plays a strong woman that easily fits her personality. The story kept you on edge the entire time, especially towards the end. The message was one that is very important in modern times. The film was explaining how humans are destroying the earth. This directly relates to global warming and the need for us to live much more sustainable lives. This is a topic I am very passionate about, so to see this message broadcast on the big screen makes me very happy. It is definitely one of the better films I’ve seen lately that is well rounded with a story and visual effect instead of one or the other.
An exhilarating, fast-passed, mind-blowing trip. Death Race takes action movies to whole new heights of insanity.
rating: A- stars: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane genre: action year released: 2008
The film is about a man named Frankenstein (Jason Statham of Transporter and other action-packed films) who is racing for his freedom. In a bizarre story that sends prisons into races for their freedom. If they win five they are free, but the warden of the prison (Joan Allen) won’t let anyone out. All the races are fixed to her liking so that it can bring in an internet audience. She broadcasts the death races live on the internet. Frankenstein’s top competition and future partner is Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson). It’s all about ratings, so when Frankenstein figures it out he puts together a plan to escape. The film is extremely bold with its fast-passed, gory, and intense action. The movie relies on its visual effects, but is backed up with a sold storyline.
I just saw the film after it was released on to DVD. I really wanted to go to the theatre to see it but couldn’t make it there in time. The film has outstanding visual effects that put you right in the action. The action never stops. Statham is one of my favorite actors. He does another wonderful job of being the hero in the film, with his unique personality and great performance in these fast-passed scenes. The casting was perfect with the other actors falling right into their roles. This film was really well put together. The only reason not to see this film is if you absolutely hate action movies, otherwise you better at least check it out once. It’s loud, fast, and tons of fun to watch.
Unbelievable picturesque locations, an outstanding action scene, but no strength in how the plot unfolded.
rating: C stars: Clive Owen, Naomi Watts genre: drama year released: 2009
The International attempts to tell the story of current economic times with a twist. The story is about the evil and corruption that is brought on by an international bank attempting to take control of countries across the world by controlling debt. When Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and his kind of partner a D.A. in New York, Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Wattts) figure out what the bank is up to, they attempt to take them down. Their efforts are consistently shut down by local authorities. In their attempts to catch the people in charge they discover how widespread the banks influence is and also how far he is willing to go to catch these people. The search to catch these people takes the duo across the world, which leads to some magnificent scenery to shoot in. Owen plays an almost typical role where he is out to get everyone because the whole world is against him, but does shine in a few particular scenes. The scene with the shoot-out in the Guggenheim Museum is one of the best I have ever seen, but unfortunately the rest of the movie could not live up to that quality.
I just went and saw the film in theatres hoping to see a fast-paced action thriller. Instead I got a film with too much of a bizarre and at times confusing storyline. I usually am a huge fan of Clive Owen, but in this film he did not live up to his potential in many scenes. There was too much talking and not enough action. I was very disappointed in how they choose to put the film together, considering they had some of the most beautiful pieces of architecture, amazing landscapes and quality actors with a storyline that had potential. With all the factors mixed in it might be worth checking out if you are not concerned about the amount of action otherwise you should wait for it to come out on DVD and rent it just to watch the scene at the Guggenheim Museum. It’s one that you can’t afford to miss.
A well performed movie that mixes the perfect amount of crude humor with cute romance. Sure to make you laugh and entertain you for two hours.
rating: B+ stars: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader genre: comedy/romance year released: 2008
Forgetting Sarah Marshall producers have had great success in their previous comedies. So it was no surprise when this film came out and was hilarious. The film gets started when Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) gets dumped by his girlfriend of five years, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell). He is really depressed, and tries to get rid of his sick feeling by having one-night stands, but he is to desperate to get back Sarah. His stepbrother, Brian (Bill Hader) tells Peter to head off to Hawaii for a vacation to get his mind off of his situation, but things only get worse when he finds out that Sarah and her new boyfriend, Aldous Snow (Russell Brand) a wacky British singer, are staying at the same hotel. In his state of shock and complete sadness, Peter is befriended by Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis) a hotel employee, who encourages him to start fresh and pursue his dreams. His dreams happen to include writing a musical of Dracula and performing it with puppets. Even while Peter grows closer to Rachel he is still hung up on getting back together with Sarah. Through Peter’s time at the hotel he experiences many strange adventures, which ultimately lead to a strange evening with Sarah where he realizes he no longer has feelings for her and that he wants to be with Rachael. While telling Rachael what happened between them she tells him that she never wants to see him again and that he should go home. Peter, although really upset, goes home and tries to do something with his life. He ends up finishing his musical puppet show of Dracula. He sends an invitation to Rachael for the shows opening night, but he doesn't expect to see her there. To his surprise she comes to the show which was a huge success and the two make up and get back together.
I saw the film for the first time this past weekend with my girlfriend. We both enjoyed it. I could have done without Segel getting fully naked several times, but it was a solid performance for him in his first major starring role. It is outrageously funny but still touching and sweet. With all the other better known comedic actors stuck in for little parts throughout it strengthens the parts of the lead characters. It was a great job of casting even though Segel was not quite the perfect looking guy that would have been matched with Bell, but Kunis was perfect for her role. She is a beautiful young women and was perfect to set Peter back in the right direction. I am not a big fan of Russell Brand, but since his character played the same role that he plays in real life it was a good fit. There were many memorable parts that leave you laughing for days afterwards. Some slow parts didn't hurt the film because of the mix of comedy and romance; this helped to set the very successful plot. The story and the characters continued to develop throughout. I was very happy with how the film ended instead of him getting back together with Sarah he choose the better girl, Rachel. It’s definitely worth checking out or maybe even buying.
Very well done. The re-make is a hit with the high quality visual effects and a successful modern portrayal of the original story. 
