Battlestar Galactica: Razor—Kind of a cheat since it’s a made-for-TV movie that fits better into a TV review. But it’s a movie nonetheless, and this is my blog, so there you go… Oddly enough, this movie didn’t have a lot to do with the main plot of the series—but in the end, it did lay down some plot elements for Season 4.0 and I expect to be further explored in 4.5 (airing now). The main character is also one we hadn’t seen thus far, and that made it tough to really root for her (especially since she is not like the other characters we’ve grown to love). But we did get to see old-school Cylons, which was cool, and also got one more little piece of the puzzle that says Kara/Starbuck is more than she seems. B
Be Kind Rewind—I think there was something more I was supposed to get from this movie, but I was still plenty entertained by the performances of Jack Black and Mos Def. And I’m a sucker for those down-and-out-communities-coming-together stories, so it had that going for it as well. The only thing: this movie kinda felt like it was riding the fence between comedy and drama. It was a comedy filmed like a drama. Sometimes it works, but it just felt odd to me. But I still give it a B for effort. B
Bolt—film. Basically, another standard kids movie—but this one is done very well. A dog who acts in superhero action movies thinks he’s got his character’s superpowers. This illusion is all an attempt to keep him on track; to make him do the movie stunts he needs to without fear. He gets separated from his “person” (a fellow actor who considers him her own dog—even though she is allowed out in the real world), and he tries tracking her down. He finds a pessimistic stray cat who is trying to convince him that his life is a lie—including the love the girl has for him. And on their journey, they run across a guinea pig who is a huge Bolt fan. Speaking of the guinea pig, Rhino, the voice work of Mark Walton (whose chief job is as an animator) was spot-on. Only Jack Black’s Po (Kung Fu Panda) is in the same “perfect” category as the perfect voice for the character. The movie is good enough on its own, but Rhino raises its grade. B
The Counterfeiters—During World War II, the Nazi’s rounded up some of the best Jewish counterfeiters to make documents, passports, and eventually monetary currency to help the war effort. Not as cold and heartless as most Holocaust films (which are that way for obvious reasons). This one raised a very tough question: were these men heroes for trying to keep themselves and others alive, or were they traitors who helped the very people who were trying to exterminate them? The answer doesn’t come from the movie; one must answer the question himself. B
Hellboy 2—film. Kinda tough to compare this “comic book” movie to Dark Knight, but this one holds up well as well. You’ve got the visual overload style of Guerrmo Del Toro back in the director’s chair for this sequel, and as expected, the places and creatures are weird and wonderful. Ron Perelman was perfect again as Hellboy, as were most of the actors in the film. Sadly, Selma Blair was given more screen time and things to do, but her character was written and acted to be whiny most of the time, so she usually brought things to a screeching halt. And while I like nice, continuity-driven pieces, it seemed like there were too many off-camera things going on. I hope they wrap up some of the loose ends in the next flick, whenever that may be. B
Married Life-- A very odd movie. I don’t know if it was originally a play or what, but it felt like one of those theatre pieces that someone made a movie out of. That’s not bad—especially because it gave the actors room to give very good performances. But it also didn’t have the “action” of a movie. There was a detachment to the film that I normally don’t have. It also ended in a very untypical fashion, so that gives it a few brownie points for originality. B
Rolling Stones- Shine a Light—I have a small interest in the Rolling Stones. I mean, they are one of the forefathers of rock, so you have to give them props. And I like their music for the most part. Also, Martin Scorsese is undeniably one of our best and most creative talents. But this was pretty much a concert video. A very well-shot concert video, but a concert video nonetheless. There’s nothing wrong with that, but so many critics hailed it as “genius”. Maybe I missed something because I was watching it at home instead of in a theatre. I don’t know. It wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t great. B
Slapstick, Too-- A look at the early days of filmmaking, and the talents in the slapstick world such as the Three Stooges, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, and Buster Keaton. Since I’m a big L&H fan, this was nice to see what their contemporaries were up to, and how the genre evolved. It was a nice break; nothing really informative, but plenty of classic bits. B
Bedtime Stories—film. Adam Sandler’s characters are some of the most childish in movies, so it makes sense that he finally unleashed his skills in a children’s movie. That alone makes this a bit of a departure from his norm, but it also showcases his talents a little more, in a film that utilizes his standard schtick. The film is about a man-boy who has a chance to realize his potential with the help of his niece and nephew. The means to do this come from the bedtime stories he tells, which have a tendency to come true in spirit, if not in actuality. It’s not great, but it is pretty fun. B-
Charlie Bartlett—This one should have been right up my alley. Quirky characters, nice message—and Robert Downey Jr. But it seemed to be a little dark just to be dark. Maybe I was a freak in high school, but my teen years weren’t that bad. I’m getting tired of all these angsty teen movies. The ones where “no one gets me” or “my home life sucks”. It’s just a bit too much. And it’s a shame I feel that way because this was a good movie otherwise. B-
I Am Legend—We all know Will Smith can bring it, so let’s get over the whole “surprise” at how good an actor he is. This was a decent film. Didn’t bring much new to the table, and there just didn’t seem to be enough storytelling going on. But there were two very heartbreaking moments, and they made the movie worth seeing. B-
Semi-Pro—A Will Farrell movie is a lot like an Adam Sandler movie: the same basic thing happens to the same basic character, but how the movie is put together can make it a good or a bad one. Luckily, this was a pretty good one. Funny, a bit vulgar, and Farrell’s character is completely ludicrous. But some chuckles can be had. B-
Son of Rambow—Another movie hailed by critics that I didn’t feel as close to. An awkward, sheltered boy runs across the school bully, who enlists him as a stuntman in the Rambo movie he is trying to make (plot: Rambo’s son has to break him out of jail). The creativeness of the movie-within-a-movie was humorous, and the exuberance the sheltered boy has once he’s allowed to be creative is fun to see as well. And many critics praised the plot that showed that the movie sort of got a life of its own, but I felt those moments were weaker. It’s hard for me to grade this one. It was very nicely put together, and the young actors were superb, but it just didn’t “do it” for me. B- (But give it a try for yourself—please).
Speed Racer—ah, one of the most lambasted movies of the year. And the critics have their points. But this movie was not made to win any awards. Pure and simple. And on that regards, I think it worked. Shut your brain off and look at the pretty (and hyper-colorful) pictures. I wasn’t a fan of the anime series, so maybe I was just the right person for this film. It wasn’t great by any means, but it’s worth watching. B-
What Happens in Vegas—Standard romantic comedy, but done in a different way. Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz haven’t done much to impress me lately, but this film was actually enjoyable and funny, and those two have to be credited for taking something as by-the-book as the “chick flick” connect-the-dots movie this was and make it worth watching. It wasn’t great, but handled differently, it could have been pretty bad. B-
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