2011 First Quarter Report

 So we are already about a fourth into the year so its report card time. Who did the best who did the worst and who was average?

January 

Season of the Witch 

 Going into Season of the Witch I was expecting the worst. The film has been delayed alot and that is never good for a movie (Beastly). With a small 5 percent this looked like a Razzie front runner but when I saw it, it was not that bad. Sure the film had a cheap feel to it and silly, but the chemistry between Nicolas Cage and Ron Perlman was solid and both of them together made for quality entertainment. Also I think that director Dominic Sera did a pretty good job for what he had to work with. So for me this film gets a C- so it would make a good rental.

The Green Hornet: B+

 2011 so far has had alot of action films and comedies and in my opinion this film did a better job then any other film in the same genre so far. The Green Hornet is just a blast of fun with tons of great action scenes and moments from Jon Chou and Seth Rogen is at his best as The Green Hornet. Also Christoph Waltz is solid as the villain and there is a cameo in the begging that made me laugh alot. Overall The Green Hornet is a blast of fun, I give it a solid B+ and I am sad to see very few people liked it.

The Dilemma: D

 To me the Dilemma is just a really boring film. The film lacked any sense of humor even thought it stared funny man Vince Vaughn and thought to be funny man Kevin James. The film also dosent really have a solid tone has it flip flops every minuet with a tone. Is it a comedy or a drama, pick one dont flip flop. I do not know why Ron Howard would choose this movie and its bad script but he did and he could not save it. I am giving The Dilemma a D that is just so close from a failure grad for the film. 

Now onto February

Just Go With It: F

 Just Go With It is just a lazy cash grab by the terrible actor director tandem of Adam Sandler and Dennis Dugan. This movie doesn't have one moment that is funny or likable instead the film is boring and mean spirited. I thought Sandler's last film Grown Ups had some decent moments but here there is nothing for any of the actors to do. I truly like Sandler, but he is really starting to get in my nerves with all of his crappy films coming out. Overall this film gets a F  becuase it is a huge fail for everyone involved.

I am Number Four: C+

 I am Number Four is surprisingly a decent film but it still has its flaws. The film acctuly had a good cast with Timothy Olyphant, Alex Pettyfer, and Teresa Palmer who is the hilight of the film as bad ass Number 6. The film also has alot of good action scenes including a fantastic climax that uses every penny of the films 60 million dollar budget. Even if the film had alot of cliches and a bad love story, I enjoyed the film. I give I am Number Four a solid C+ so depending on what you think of the film see it at a matine price or a rental.

Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son: F

 

 Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! This movie sucks bad! FUCK THIS FILM. IT GETS AN F FOR A FAILURE.

Last but not least March 

The Adjustment Bureau: A+

                                                                                                                                                                                     For me, The Adjustment Bureau is the best film that I have seen so far this year. To me this is a surprisingly different thriller that focused more on the love story then the whole fate storyline. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt had absoulty fantastic chemistry together and I really cared for them. Also the films cinematography is brilliant has they perfectly betrayed New York City. Near the end when they opened the door portals, my jaw dropped at the wonderment of the imagery. Overall I am going to give this film an A+ and this will definitely be on my best of list.

Battle: Los Angeles: B-

                                                                                                                                                                                     Battle: Los Angeles is not the movie it should have been, but it is still a fun popcorn flick. The visuals in the film are defiantly impressive especially near the end when there is a final standoff. The film is nicely directed by Johnathon Liesban who really makes it seem like a war film with aliens as the villains then a scifi action film. The film is nicely lead by Aaron Eckhart who does a good job but the rest of the cast was average at best. Overall I give the film a B- becuase it had its moments with some fun moments but it is overall disappointing.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules: B

 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is by no means perfect, but I found this new Wimpy Kid film very entertaining and surprisingly made me laugh. I thought that the two brothers Greg (Zachary Gordon) and Rodrick (Devon Bostick) have a great chemistry as they both were very convincing as brothers. Also Steve Zahn did a fantastic job as the father who perfectly over acted. Overall, Diary of a Wimpy Kid won win an Oscar but it is a very entertaining heart warming film and I am going to give it a B.

 So what do you think of my report card? Whats yours?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Directed by David Bowers

Written by Jeff Filgo Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs

Actors Zachary Gordon Steve Zahn Devon Bostick and Rachel Haris

 With all of the terrible buzz about Sucker Punch I decided to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. Since I have read and really enjoyed the source marital I thought why not. I saw the first one in theaters and it was a fun but very flawed live action family comedy. So what did I think of the new one? I am going to say that this is the best live action family comedy made in the 2000s.

 The story of the film is Wimpy Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), now in seventh grade, thinks he has it all together. He has mastered middle school and gotten rid of the Cheese Touch. However, Greg's older brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick), is itching to cut him down to size. So will the evil Rodrick always have a hatred for Greg or will the two boys do the impossible: be friends.

 So first off, the two brothers Greg and Rodrick have a real chemistry together. They seem like real brothers who hate each other but they just seem like they are getting closer and closer. In the first film the main thing I did not like was that both Greg and Rodrick were extremely selfish and annoying but in this film both of them are likable and for kids they are rateable. I can even relate with Rodrick and Greg's brother struggles and everyone who has a brother should also relate to this film also.  

  Another thing is this film is Steve Zahn's best film in quite time. For me they should call this film the Steve Zahn show becuase he is just giving 110 percent in this film and I just thought he was he was the funniest part in the film. There is this one scene when they get back to the house and Rodrick and Greg hope that that Zahn dose not find out about the party. So hes checking the house and then he just screaming about the silly stuff and I cracked up and with any other actor would have just ruined it.

 Also, the film has a huge improvement in directors from Thor to David Bowers. Bowers is a very underrated director. He directed two good entertaining animated films in Flushed Away and Astor Boy both of those being two completely different animated films (a comedy and a scifi action adventure). It seems as if Dowers as much more intelligence then Thor with this film having much less fart and poop jokes. That said there are still a few jokes for the kids.

 Now I am going to get into the bad. The film had some jokes that fell completely flat. All of the clips I saw before the film were just bad but I do understand the film is for little kids. Still some of the jokes were not even funny for the dumbest kids or adults.

 Now for my total review. Overall Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a fun time at the movies. I think its best to see it with a big audience laughing with everyone else it is just a fun time. After the heart warming ending, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a 

Arthur (2011) Review

Directed by Jason Winer 

Written by Steve Gordon 

Starring Russel Brand, Helen Mirren, Jeniffer Gardner, and Greta Gerwig

 

Every year there is a film no one liked besides me ( 2010: Johna Hex 2009: Taking of Pelham 123 so on), I think this film is that film for me. I have seen the original film that won an Oscar and this film is not the same. Instead of handling the man child story with drama, this films uses comedy with English star Russel Brand. So if I liked this film, how much did I like this film?

 The story of the film is man child Arthur (Russel Brand) a rich and spoiled drunk who lives life to the fullest with all of his toys and movie props. He is watched by his Nanny Hobson (Helen Mirren) who has been watching Arthur and being the mother he has never had. His mother Vivienne (Geraldine James) is the owner of a wealthy business and it is soon to be inherited by Arthur. 

 There is a catch to this. To inherit the money, Arthur must marry Susan (Jeniffer Gardner) who he thinks is crazy and wild for all of the wrong reasons. One day he meets a tour guide named Naomi (Great Gerwig) and instantly falls in love with her even if she is dirt poor. So will Arthur choose crazy Susan and the money or a happy but poor life with his true love Naomi and forever disregarded by his family?

 The best thing that this film has going for it is Russel Brand. I know alot of people are sick of him but I am not one bit. This is actual his first lead role and I think he is extremely witty and charming. By the end of the movie I was surprisingly felling for him even thought he did some bad things throughout the film. That is a must because the movie would fall apart if Arthur was not a likable character becuase we have to root for him.

 Another thing is I liked alot of the pop culture references in the film. The film opens with Arthur dressing up in the Joel Shoemaker Batman suit and once they showed the bat nipples I laughed and cried at the same time. Most of the references come from his cars (Dukes of Hazard Car, Mystery Mobile) and his outfits. This to me made the film seem realistic becuase if I were rich I would be doing the exact same thing.

 Along with that, the supporting cast of the film is solid. Helen Mirren is at her best and has a great chemistry will Russel Brand. Every scene with them is a hilight and she is in most of the film. The two love interest in the film also did a good job. Jeniffer Gardner did a fantastic job as the intelligent but crazy girl and Gerta Gerwig was fantastic and beautiful as the down to earth girl. Heck even Nick Nolte did a good job as Gardner's dad.

 The final thing I want to say is that the ending pulled my heart string. When the end came around I was really caring about the characters so when the climax came around I was really happy and sad and laughing at the same time. I know it is a generic film but it is so well executed that I did not really mind or notice.

 So overall Arthur is a surprisingly funny and heartwarming comedy that shows that Russell Brand is here to stay. This as of now is not my favorite film of the year but I am still going to give it a 8.6. Ok now post your comments saying how much you disagree with me or agree. 

Source Code review

Directed by Duncan Jones 

Written by Mark Gorden

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, and Jeffrey Wright

 Once I heard that Moon director Duncan Jones was making another science fiction film I could not wait to see it. Moon was one of the best films in recent years and with him having a bigger budget, the sky is the limit for him. Then I saw the trailer and I was not that impressed with the trailer and overall kind of disappointed. From the trailer, the film looked like a poor mans Inception. Once the film came out the film got dazzling reviews so with few films out I decided to check the film out. This is what I thought.

 Source Code is about Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) a helicopter pilot who randomly wakes up on a train. He has know clue what is going on but suddenly the train blows up. He then wakes up in a dark room where Air Force officer Capt. Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) tells him about a devices called Source Code which was created by Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright). This device is being used to find whoever planted a bomb in a train that is being linked to soon to be terrorist attacks by the bomber of the train.

 As he tries to find the bomber, he starts to connect with a woman named Christina Warren (Michelle Monaghan) and find more and more information. He finds out that everyone on the train is dead so he can not possibly save her from her untimely demise. So will Colter Stevens find the terrorist and save the girl he loves or will he not find the bomber and millions of lives will be lost.

 So now time for my review. I am just going to say that Source Code in my opinion is brilliant and better then Inception which I also loved. Unlike Inception, this film has a heart and some moments that made me laugh. The first twenty minuets or so are actually pretty funny as he wonders the train cluelessly. You would never see something  like that in Inception and thats what makes it better then Inception. Source Code is so many different genres a mystery, science fiction, a romance, and a comedy.

 The best of those genres is mystery. Every single eight minuet sequence we learn something new about the train and its passengers. The film also has alot of effective red hearings some of them better then others. A few of them played into the films humor and I wont spoil them but they are funny. By the time the terrorist is announced it made alot of sense and the terrorist was a realistic option. 

 Along with the mystery element, the film has a fantastic cast lead by Mr Gyllenhaal who is turning out to be a versatile actor and to me, is the next great action star. Every film he is in, his is charismatic even if the character is not developed well like in the Prince of Persia. This film he does something I have rally seen him do, cry. Near the end of the film he lets the water works go and it is very effective. In my opinion, this is his one of him best performance of his carer and by far the best performance of the year so far.

 Also in this film are some fine performances by the rest of the actors in the film. Michelle Monaghan is fantastic as the love interest in the film. She is at her best and I can really see why Colter Stevenson would fight for her love. Along with her with about equal screen time is Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga as Goodwin the person who communicates and explains Source Code to Stevens. She is great as well as she grows and feels for the brave Stevens. Also in this film is Jeffery Wright who over acts a little bit, but does a solid job.

 So overall Source Code is the cream of the crop of 2011. Duncan Jones proves that he is not a one film wonder with this fantastic film that is better then Moon. He is now one of the premiere directors in Hollywood and hopefully the producers will give him better budgets for his film. He does a fantastic job putting this complex storyline in a brisk 96 minuets then Inception which was 140 mins long. Duncan also completes much more relatable characters who just want to know what the heck is going on.

 So with all of these fantastic qualities, I am going to give this film a 10/10. This is my favorite film of the year by far. Check it out!