RBR: RED 2 (Quick hits)

This one is not available on home movie yet, but it is long gone from the theaters, so we'll just stick it here and be done with it. Those who were fans of the first RED film, will get another dose of the same here. Thankfully I enjoyed the first one and found enough to like here as well. It mostly comes from seeing this group of aging stars have a lot of fun blowing stuff up real good. Could they have done something more interesting from a storytelling perspective? Absolutely. But this is the type of film that matinee theaters were built for. It's harmless entertainment that keeps you engaged for a few hours but then you'll likely quickly forget about a few days after you watched it. There's no need to do a third film in this series, but if they opted to do so, I wouldn't be totally against it. This was certainly better than most of Bruce Willis' efforts (A Good Day to Die Hard, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) this year. Rating: *** 1/2

RBR: G.I. Joe: Retaliation

When people criticize Hollywood for being out of ideas, one of the first pieces of evidence that gets cited is the abundance of television shows that get turned into feature films when they have no business being on the silver screen. The GI Joe franchise, however, seems like it would translate well to the big screen. You have a colorful cast of characters and a relatable story of good and evil. Given the source material that they have to work with, it is baffling how much Hollywood has mismanaged this franchise and turned in now two disappointing entries. What has been apparent in both 2009's Rise of Cobra and the recent sequel Relatiation is the corporate fingerprints that have put a stranglehold on the direction of these films. Things like putting it in 3D and adding The Rock and Bruce Willis to the cast offer nothing to the actual storytelling and are included merely because some studio executives has the misguided belief that this is what audiences want. In the cartoon, all of the Joes had distinct names and corresponding attributes that made them unique. In this latest film, the only way a character stands out is because of who is playing him. Why is Dwayne Johnson called Roadblock? Beats me. They might as well have just called him The Rock because that's what everyone is thinking while seeing him on the screen. The villians are not much better in terms of being distinct. The handling of Cobra Commander is slightly better here than in the first film, but he has to share time on the screen with several other villains so we can never really appreciate any of them. That brings up another issue with the film in that there is too much going on, yet none of it feels like it matters. Half of the film is spent on the rivalry between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow and too often I had no idea why I should care or what it had to do with the other plot involving an ambush on the Joes. I will give credit where it is due and say that there are some impressive action scenes sprinkled throughout the film. The ninja fight that takes place on the side of a mountain in particular is very well done. But again, none of it feels like it matters. Never before have I seen an entire major city get destroyed in a film and have it feel as insignificant as it does here. Until this franchise can show a little bit more coherence in its storytelling, I'm going AWOL. Rating: ** 1/2

RBR: A Good Day to Die Hard

I don't write as many reviews for this blog that I do because it's a job or some responsibility, I enjoy it. It's enjoyable because I love movies. Even when a film is bad, there can usually be something enjoyable that can be derived from its awfulness. So when I say that watching the latest entry in the Die Hard was one of the most unpleasant experiences I had watching a film, you can know that it's not being said out of hyperbole. Frankly, this movie does not even feel as if belongs in the same universe as the previous John McClane films. This seems to be a failure at all levels of recognizing what made the franchise enjoyable in the first place. One such trademark was classic villains. Actors like Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons brought energy to their characters and made for great foils against Bruce Willis. In this film, the story is so convoluted that it is unclear who exactly is the primary antagonist. It just seems that every character in this universe has some level of evil to them, leaving McClane no choice but to shoot at anything that moves. This, then weakens the McClane character. One of his best features is the way he disrupts the villain's master plan. Here, neither he nor the audience, have a clue or a care as to who should be stopped or why. The fact that the film is set in Russia (McClane is visiting to try to save his son, who is on trial for murder) also proves to be a mistake. It's one thing for McClane to be a one man wrecking crew in his own country for the sake of saving it. Doing such wreckless acts of violence elsewhere comes off as mean and irresponsible. I could also criticize the cartoonish level that the violence takes on in the film, remarking that no human being could live through half the things that McClane does, but that's actually been a part of the series since the start. What I can complain though is the fake nature in which these over-the-top scenes are filmed. With the earlier films, directors had to be creative to make you believe he could survive those stunts. But with the excess use of CGI in this film, the audience gets completely taken out of the moment because none of it looks real or believable. Overall, there is such a pure lack of fun in this film. Even McClane's signature line (which was thankfully back to its R-rated completeness) is done in a lazy, throwaway manner. This fifth entry would suggest that the franchise has been tapped out of its creativity and usefulness, but I certainly hope that they make another film just so that the character can go out on a better note than this. If this is the end, then it's going out on a sad day to die hard. Rating: **

Dying is easy, math is Hard

In anticipation for the new Die Hard movie set to come out in a couple of weeks, the Internet has once again come through in the awesome department by creating these thorough infographics for the previous Die Hard films, which go into painstaking detail about all of the statistics that make up the world of John McClane. Posters have only been made for the first three films, but I'd imagine one for the fourth will be out shortly. Check these out in all of there wonderful geeky glory.

Better RED than dead

Just seeing Helen Mirren holding a big ass gun is enough of a selling point for me to be excited to see this sequel. Here's your first look at RED 2

2013 Movie Preview (#12 - 7)

#12. This is the End (June 14)

Plot: The comedy "This is the End" follows six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Once they discover that they are experiencing the Apocalypse, they must come to terms with why they were left behind. Eventually they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.

Personal Opinion: This has been in the cooker for a while now and I had actually made a post several years ago of a short that fueled the inspiration for this film. While the cast isn't perfect (I could have done without Danny McBride), but it does feature a lot of very funny people. If the movie is as crazy as the trailer I posted a few days ago, then this may be the surprise comedy of the summer.


#11. Oblivion (April 19)

Plot: Tom Cruise stars in "Oblivion," an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the director of "TRON: Legacy" and the producer of "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man's confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind. Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack's mission is nearly complete. Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

Personal Opinion: Tom Cruise has proven time and again to always choose the right parts for himself. This latest sci-fi flick where he seems to play a human version of WALL-E seems like it has a lot of potential. Based on the trailer I saw, Joseph Kosinski, who directed TRON: Legacy has once again proven that he's got a flair for the visuals. With this, Pacific Rim, Guillermo del Toro's latest that just missed my list, and Elysium (yet to come on my list), 2013 could be a very big year for original sci-fi films.


#10. The Hangover Part III (May 24)

Plot: This time, there's no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.

Personal Opinion: A lot of people were disappointed with the most recent effort of the Wolfpack claiming it was nothing more than a carbon copy of the first one. While I agreed with those complaints to a certain degree, I can't help but still be interested in seeing the next adverture of this gang. My hope is that this film is being made as a make-do for the second one, similar to the way Ocean's Thirteen tried to erase the bad taste left in audience's mouths by Twelve


#9. A Good Day to Die Hard (February 14)

Plot: Since the first "Die Hard" in 1988, John McClane has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the skills and attitude to always be the last man standing, making him enemy #1 for terrorists the world over. Now, McClane faces his greatest challenge ever, this time on an international stage, when his estranged son Jack is caught up in the daring prison escape of a rogue Russian leader, and father and son McClane must work together to keep each other alive and keep the world safe for democracy.

Personal Opinion: There are very few other franchises that I love more than the Die Hard films. Even though they vary in their quality, Bruce Willis simply IS John McClane and inhabits that role so nicely with each film. By coming out in February, this should be the perfect cure for the winter blahs. My only hope is that the filmmakers learn from the mistake of Live Free or Die Hard and make sure that this one is rated R. No one wants to see another muted version of McClane's signature line.


#8. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (March 15)

Plot: Superstar magicians Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carell) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi) have ruled the Las Vegas strip for years, raking in millions with illusions as big as Burt's growing ego. But lately the duo's greatest deception is their public friendship, while secretly they've grown to loathe each other. Facing cutthroat competition from guerilla street magician Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), whose cult following surges with each outrageous stunt, even their show looks stale. But there's still a chance Burt and Anton can save the act, both onstage and off, if Burt can get back in touch with what made him love magic in the first place.

Personal Opinion: As I mentioned yesterday, I'm always excited for movies that feature magic. I don't this one to be overly smart or clever, but that's all right because I fully expect to make up for that with plenty of laughs. Expectations are high considering the cast inlcudes Carell, Buscemi, Carrey, and Alan Arkin. Having just one of them typically guarantees hilarity, so all four should be simply magical. Yes, I'm embarassed by the pun, but I couldn't help myself.


#7. Thor: The Dark World (November 8)

Plot: Marvel's "Thor: The Dark World" continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel's "Thor" and "Marvel's The Avengers," Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Personal Opinion: After the huge success of The Avengers, the big question will be whether the members can go back to being successful on their own. While someone like Iron Man has already proven himself in solo ventures, the jury is still out on the Asgardian. The first film was solid but sagged under the weight of simply trying to introduce the character to mass audiences. I want to like the Thor character, so my fingers are crossed that this one is able to showcase the character's true potential.

2013 Movie Preview (#24 - 19)

#24. 42 (April 12)

Plot: 42 will star Academy Award nominee Harrison Ford (What Lies Beneath, Air Force One, Witness) as the innovative Dodger's general manager Branch Rickey, the MLB executive who first signed baseball great Jackie Robinson to the minors and then helped to bring him up to the show, and Chadwick Boseman (The Express) as Robinson, the heroic African American who was the first man to break the color line in the big leagues. The film also stars Nicole Beharie (Shame) as Rachel Isum, who would become Robinson's wife, as well as Christopher Meloni (upcoming Man of Steel) and T.R. Knight (TV's Grey's Anatomy).

Personal Opinion: As you no doubt know, I'm a baseball fan so anytime a new film about America's pasttime hits the screen I'm instantly interested. The fact that this one is about one of the most prolific players in baseball's history makes it all the more appealing. Based on the trailer that came out this past fall, it seems like this one could feature some very good performances including Ford as Branch Rickey. Oscar films don't usually come out in the spring, but this one may end up being an exception.


#23. Runner Runner (September 27)

Plot: A dramatic thriller based in the world of offshore online gaming and dealing with the tense relationship between the business' owner and his younger protege.

Personal Opinion: After Argo, nobody is hotter right now than Ben Affleck. Though he is not directing this film, I'm still excited to see what he does as a follow-up. Pairing him with Justin Timberlake who's acting career is on the rise gives this film quite the duo. Though there's nothing new about films dealing with competitive rivalries in business, the online gaming aspect of the plot makes this feel like something fresh and original.


#22. Delivery Man (October 4)

Plot: From DreamWorks Pictures comes "Delivery Man," the story of affable underachiever David Wozniak (Vince Vaughn), whose mundane life is turned upside down when he finds out that he fathered 533 children through sperm donations he made twenty years earlier. In debt to the mob, rejected by his pregnant girlfriend, things couldn't look worse for David when he is hit with a lawsuit from 142 of the 533 twenty-somethings who want to know the identity of the donor. As David struggles to decide whether or not he should reveal his true identity, he embarks on a journey that leads him to discover not only his true self but the father he could become as well.

Personal Opinion: The story here has a lot of potential. The key will be the direction they take this story. If the comedy is too broad, then this could be a disaster. There's also a risk of the film being too serious. But if it strikes the right tone this could be a real comedic gem. Known for his fast-talking charm, Vince Vaughn seems like a good choice to play this 'delivery man'.


#21. RED 2 (August 2)

Plot: "RED 2" brings back the team of retired CIA operatives as they use their old-school style to take on a new set of enemies all across Europe.

Personal Opinion: The first film was a surprising treat. It found the proper balance of humor and action while also giving us the joy of seeing these older people having the fun typically engaged in by actors half their age. The key question here though is whether or not there will be Bruce Willis fatigue after the new Die Hard and the G.I. Joe sequel comes out earlier in the year.


#20. The To Do List (August 16)

Plot: Starring Aubrey Plaza ("Safety Not Guaranteed"), "The To Do List" follows the story of Brandy Klark (Plaza), a Type-A, overachiever who comes up with a "to-do list" featuring all the risque extra-curricular activities she missed out on in high school and wants to complete before college. Rachel Bilson ("Hart of Dixie"), Bill Hader ("Men In Black 3"), Andy Samberg ("Saturday Night Live"), Scott Porter ("The Good Wife"), Connie Britton ("American Horror Story"), Clark Gregg ("The Avengers"), Christopher Mintz-Plasse ("Superbad"), Donald Glover ("Community"), Johnny Simmons ("The Perks of Being a Wallflower"), Sarah Steele ("Please Give") and Alia Shawkat ("The Oranges") co-star in the film.

Personal Opinion: I make no pretenses that this will be a small indie comedy that most people won't see, but that doesn't my interest in it in the least. What's not to like about a film that features a cast like the one listed above. Aubrey Plaza proved in Safety Not Guaranteed that she has leading woman capabilities. If this film earns any sort of recognition, she could easily cement that status. If not, then at the very least, this will be harmless comedy that will serve as a nice way to enjoy the final days of summer.


#19. White House Down (June 28)

Plot: The storyline concerns a para-military takeover of the White House.

Personal Opinion: Though it's not indicated above, this film is being directed by Roland Emmerich, which will likely mean that this will be one big, noisy mess of a film and yet somehow I'm still intrigued by it. A White House takeover is a plot that hasn't been overdone and when done right, like it was on 24, it can make for a very compelling story. While he doesn't do much for me, the fact that Channing Tatum, after the big year he just had, is in the cast can only help its cause.

RBR: Moonrise Kingdom

It may surprise some of you, given my love for movies, that Moonrise Kingdom was my first entry into the Wes Anderson universe. The only other film of his that I've seen is Fantastic Mr. Fox, which doesn't exactly fit into the mold of his typical films. If you've seen Anderson's work, then you know to expect a strange, yet beguiling story filled to the max with quirky character. This one centers around a geeky young boy and a disillusion young girl who meet and run off together abandoning their boy scout troop and family, respectively. I found the first half of the film to be wholly enchanting. The relationship between the two protagonists as they go on their journey is sweet and charming while the laughs come from the adults who go on the hunt to find them. This includes Frances McDormand and Bill Murray as the girl's parents, Bruce Willis as the town's sheriff, and Edward Norton as the boy scout troop leader. There's a lot of fun in watching the kids act grown up while the adults have some serious arrested development issues. If the entire film had been the chase for these kids, this would have been a great movie. However, the kids are discovered midway through and the film has difficulty in continuing the story past that point. Things turn even more bizarre and surreal in the second half and a second escape by the kids isn't nearly as engaging. Those who enjoy Anderson's work will no doubt love this latest effort but I think it is worth seeing even if you are a neophyte to his work like I was. It appears I may have to play catch up now and start watching some of his older stuff to see if I've been missing out all of these years. Rating: **** 1/4

Beat the clock

The words 'time travel' can evoke a wide array of emotions in people. Some marvel at the thought of being able to into the past or future. Others who have seen movies depicting such science fiction know the narrative and linear headaches such an undertaking can produce.

In Looper, the latest film from director Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom), both the wonder and frustration associated with travelling through time are on full display. The plot is not the easiest to explain, but I'll give it my best shot. The film is set in the not so distant future where time travel hasn't been invented but eventually will. In the film's future where time travel does exist, murder is forbidden, so people are sent to the past to be 'eliminated'. They are killed by 'loopers', a hired group of individuals who are informed of where their time travelling target is set to arrive so that they can be immediately killed.

One of the interesting things about the film is that eventually all loopers will kill off their future self. The film centers around one of these loopers named Joe, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Problems arise when he is unable to kill his future self, played by Bruce Willis (Gordon-Levitt went through extensive makeup in order to come off as a reasonably younger version of Willis). Willis' escape not only creates the possibility of timeline alteration, but puts Gordon-Levitt's life in danger as his mob boss (played fantastically in a small role by Jeff Daniels) wants him killed now as well.

At this point, the film appears to set itself up as an interesting chase picture. However, instead of going that conventional route, we learn that Willis has some big plans now that he is in the past that send the film in a whole new direction. Without going into too much detail on it, it creates a plot twist that I wasn't expecting and one that I'm not entirely sure I appreciate.

What I can divulge is that while on his quest to hunt down his future self, Gordon-Levitt comes across a young mother (played by Emily Blunt) living on a Kansas farm. Despite playing a role that you would not expect from her, Blunt delivers a captivating performance and proves to be a great addition to the film. But the role her and her son play in the story is one that I was at best, confused by, and at worst, greatly disturbed seeing unfold.

As the film shifts towards Willis' plan, the film also slows down considerably. This is a move that I don't have a problem with in theory. I can appreciate when a director wants to let their story breathe and allow for characters to develop. The problem with that shift in this film is that it leaves the viewer too much time to begin asking questions and poking holes in the time travel rules that were established in the faster-paced first half of the film.

I will credit Johnson, however, for imbuing the film with a unique visual style. Choosing a location like Kansas to set this film feels fresh and interesting. He also creatively weaves symobolism throughout the film that helps establish what he's trying to say with this admittedly difficult to follow story. I've seen each of Johnson's films so far and while each of them have their flaws, it's clear that he has some distinct talents that separate him from most other directors.

Looper was one of my most anticipated films this year, so I may be judging it harder than it deserves. There's plenty to like about this film and I applaud those involved for trying to create something new and engaging. Ultimately, though I can't help but feel let down by its unexpected narrative shift and unresolved subplots. I may find though that my criticisms may soften if I watch the film again. While time travel doesn't exist for us yet, thanks to the beauty of home video we have the ability to go into the past and watch films like these over and over again in hopes of discovering something new each time. Grade: B+

Yippee ki YAY!

Believe it or not, John McClain is back for another Die Hard adventure. Here's your first look at A Good Day to Die Hard

2012 Fall Movie Preview (September)

This week I'll be looking at the top films I'm looking forward to over the next four months as well as identifying some other big releases set to come out soon.

HOTEL TRANSLYVANIA (September 28)
Plot: Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula's lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free from meddling from the human world. But here's a little known fact about Dracula: he is not only the Prince of Darkness; he is also a dad. Over-protective of his teenage daughter, Mavis, Dracula fabricates tales of elaborate dangers to dissuade her adventurous spirit. As a haven for Mavis, he opens the Hotel Transylvania, where his daughter and some of the world's most famous monsters - Frankenstein and his bride, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves, and more - can kick back in safety and peace. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.

Quick thoughts: After a rough stretch of bad movies, Adam Sandler hopes to turn things around in the friendly environment of computer animation. Though the basic story isn't novel (over-protective dad can't let go of his little girl), the setting lends itself to a number of wild and colorful characters. Opening a month before Halloween, this will no doubt be a big hit with kids.


LOOPER (September 28)
Plot: In the futuristic action thriller "Looper," time travel will be invented, but it will be illegal and only available on the black market. When the mob wants to get rid of someone, they will send their target 30 years into the past, where a 'looper' - a hired gun, like Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) - is waiting to mop up. Joe is getting rich and life is good, until the day the mob decides to 'close the loop,' sending back Joe's future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination. The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson and also stars Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels.

Quick thoughts: I took an interest in this film fairly early on and with each preview I've seen or read, it has continued to build. I always appreciate films that come up with novel or unique plots. And you gotta love this cast. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has already had quite a year and this one might just end up being his best one yet.


THE MASTER (September 14)
Plot: Set in America in the years following World War II, a charismatic intellectual (Philip Seymour Hoffman) launches a faith-based organization and taps a young drifter (Joaquin Phoenix) as his right-hand man. But as the faith begins to gain a fervent following, the onetime vagabond finds himself questioning the belief system he has embraced, and his mentor.

Quick thoughts: This one has really been generating some Oscar buzz, particularly after its first trailer was released. Though still a lot is unclear about this movie, it appears that it will be in some way based on life of Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. That will no doubt create some controversy. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who also directed There Will Be Blood, this will be if nothing else, captivating.


TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE (September 21)
Plot: Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood) has been one of the best scouts in baseball for decades, but, despite his efforts to hide it, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus, who can tell a pitch just by the crack of the bat, refuses to be benched for what may be the final innings of his career. He may not have a choice. The front office of the Atlanta Braves is starting to question his judgment, especially with the country's hottest batting phenom on deck for the draft. The one person who might be able to help is also the one person Gus would never ask: his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at a high-powered Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner. Against her better judgment, and over Gus's objections, Mickey joins him on his latest scouting trip to North Carolina, jeopardizing her own career to save his. Forced to spend time together for the first time in years, each makes new discoveries, revealing long-held truths about their past and present that could change their future.

Quick thoughts I can't help the fact that I'm a sucker for baseball movies, so I immediately wanted to check this one out. The fact that it features Clint Eastwood in front of the camera for the first time in four years just sweetens the deal. Now that the Cleveland Indians have given up their season, this may be the only good baseball I have to look forward to for the rest of the year. Last year's baseball movie, Moneyball, topped my 'best of' list. I'd have no problem if this accomplished the same feat this year.


OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
The Words (September 7)
Finding Nemo 3D (September 14)
End of Watch (September 21)
Won't Back Down (September 28)

Thrown for a Looper

This made my most anticipated films of 2012 list and now here's our first chance to get a good look at what we can expect in this twisty, time-travelling sci-fi film. Check out the trailer for Looper starring Joseph Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis.

More McClain

Are you a Die Hard diehard? Well get ready because everybody's favorite indestructible cop is going to be back for another go round. Here are the details from comingsoon.net:

The fifth entry in the Die Hard franchise officially has a title and a release date, with 20th Century Fox revealing that the film will be called A Good Day to Die Hard and will hit theaters on February 14, 2013.

The film, drafted by Skip Woods (The A-Team, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) will be directed by John Moore (Max Payne) and is officially described as follows:

Since the first Die Hard in 1988, John McClane has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the skills and attitude to always be the last man standing, making him enemy #1 for terrorists the world over. Now, McClane faces his greatest challenge ever, this time on an international stage, when his estranged son Jack is caught up in the daring prison escape of a rogue Russian leader, and father and son McClane must work together to keep each other alive and keep the world safe for democracy.

The film is expected to begin production in January of 2012, filming on-location in Russia.