May 30th, 2008

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Posted by Amber in Review

I was aware at all times that I watching a new Indiana Jones movie.  I literally couldn’t believe how lucky I was.  My favorite was The Last Crusade (hush all you Raiders fanatics!  I saw that one last, give me a break!) and I’ve always wanted to see another one.  Rumors abounded through the years.  Turns out all we had to do was wait.So, let’s get it out of the way.  Yes, Harrison Ford looks old.  So does Karen Allen.  It’s because they are, let it go.  From the first appearance of Indiana Jones on screen (in shadow, placing fedora on head) I was lost in my joy.  Very shortly he is reunited with a whip and the fun begins.  Spielberg and Lucas threw in a little new blood with Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams, and I found him to be a very welcome addition.  He’s the greaser stereotype, complete with motorcycle and comb.

I can’t talk too much about it because of those silly spoilers, but I really enjoyed the movie.  Much like the regret you feel for the many years Marion and Indiana were seperated, I too felt regret for being seperated from new installments of the franchise.  All those years wasted.  And before I get the snarky emails about the artifact and its origins, please keep in mind that the first three films were also so firmly based in reality.  It’s fun to watch and it looks fantastic.  If you enjoyed the previous films, you’ll like this one as well.  Don’t expect it to reinvent the series; enjoy it for exactly what it was - whip, hat, a car chase, well timed sarcastic comments, and that amazing John Williams theme.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Previews I Liked:

Hancock
The Incredible Hulk
Get Smart
WallE
Eagle Eye

May 30th, 2008

The Strangers

Posted by Chris in Review

Awesome movie.” A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants.”I think scenes are scarier with no music. They do a lot of that in this movie. This is a great movie to see in theatres, it definately helps out the suspense.  Don’t wait.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

May 23rd, 2008

Iron Man

Posted by Amber in Review

Wow.  You know, usually, a comic book movie is, well, a comic book movie.  I purposely waited a whole day after seeing this movie to write the review.  Otherwise, instead of one page of gushing over Iron Man, I would have written four.

I loved it.  I love it.  I can’t wait to see it again.  I loved everything about it.  I especially loved the yummy Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark.  To start the list of everything Marvel got right making this movie, let’s talk about casting.  RDJ was absolutely perfect for this role.  He’s snarky and handsome and charismatic, and the man has acting chops.  His whole life he’s never been accused of a lack of talent, only a lack of self control.  So when Stark goes through a transformation of character, you can see the change in his eyes.  He was amazing.  See?  Gushing.The rest of the cast was fantastic too.  I had my doubts of Gwyneth Paltrow as the simpering Pepper Potts, but she makes you believe that she’s only around doing his bidding because she wants to.  Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane (don’t you love the last name?  Oily stain indeed) was the perfect mix of fatherly attention and corporate greed.  And finally, Terrence Howard, previously hailed by me as fantastic in anything, plays the best bud in a very restrained manner.  He’s the perfect foil to RDJ’s boyishness.

The movie is long, but it never felt like it.  The action sequences were fun to watch, and my normal tendency to zone out until the dialogue starts back up was overthrown by how interesting it all was.  In one scene, Tony takes a phone call on his cell, while trying to outfly two Army planes (I’m a girl, don’t ask me what kind of planes they were).  The script was great, and if this movie is any indication, The Incredible Hulk could be great too.  Definitely go see this in the theater if you can – it will be totally worth every penny you spend, even on the snacks.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

Note: If you’re just now discovering the greatness of Robert Downey Jr., take the time to go back and watch the movie that hooked me – 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Previews I liked:
Sex and the City (duh)
Don’t Mess with the Zohan (I’m so ashamed, but the preview was funny)
The Happening (maybe Shyamalan can pull it off this time?  and Mark Wahlberg?  Yay)
The Incredible Hulk (Ed Norton! I’m there)

May 7th, 2008

Iron Man

Posted by Chris in Review

Wow.  I don’t like the Marvel movies usually but this one was really really good.Tony Starke is kidnapped about terrorists and held so that he can create a new weapon that will allow the terrorists to rule.  Instead he build a suit that will allow him to escape.  Once free he decided to stop building weapons and start building things to protect.  He fine tunes the suit and then you have the Iron Man suit everyone knows and loves.Definately worth seeing, theatres would probably help make it more exciting.  Sitting on the couch watching this wouldn’t be the same.

Rating: ★★★★★