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KICK-ASS
A little more delightful, and rather fun. 7-10
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Posted: |
May 9, 2010 - 8:22 PM
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By: |
mrscott
(Member)
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Iron Man 2 / Rated PG-13 for intense Sci-Fi violence and language
Iron Man 2 is the sequel to Iron Man (why not Iron Man 1?) and the precursor to both Iron Man 3 and a new series, The Avengers. What ties them all together is Samuel L. Jackson. In Iron Man SLJ played Nick Fury. He appeared uncredited. In IM2 he is back as Nick Fury but credits abound. He will also be playing Nick Fury in the upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Nick Fury (2012) and The Avengers (2012). I am beginning to see a pattern. A little research finds that to keep SLJ in the Iron Man series as Nick Fury, he was promised an unprecedented 9 picture deal with SLJ in the role of ?????. You figure it out. As a sequel, IM2 is not as good as the established first film Iron Man, but as big, noisy entertainment it is a visual (and ear) blaster. As usual, big set pieces serve as the film’s highlights. Robert Downey, Jr. is back as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Everybody who wasn’t killed in the first film are back, except for Terrence Howard who has left the part of IM’s Colonel buddy to Don Cheadle. Terrence probably wanted the part of Nick Fury but it is currently occupied until the year 2052. This time out Stark is suffering from heart problems and may die. He may also be killed by all the bullets flying at him and explosives going off around him and a bad guy out for vengeance played by Mickey Rourke. MR has a semi IM outfit but mainly cracks a high-powered electric whip which cuts through metal like a hot knife through butter. He chews a toothpick and scowls a lot. Downey, Jr. again plays his role of IM and Tony Stark with panache and élan. Both those words surprised you didn’t they? Since this is a Marvel Comics (now owned by Disney) feature, Stan Lee is expected to put in a cameo and he does. Look for him early and briefly playing the part of Larry King. At a little over 2 hours there is a bit too much talking between the action sequences but there’s plenty of those to keep you interested. Watch for The Avengers being set up with SLJ and Scarlett Johansson although it is not apparent that SJ will be in the upcoming films. She also wanted the Nick Fury part but the line is getting a little long. There is a scene at the end of the end credits that also introduces The Avengers by bringing in a prop and big hole to titillate the audience. As if they need it. Get use to the name Nick Fury.
Rated 3.2 out of 4.0 reasons I thought the Avengers were Emma Peel and John Steed in movies and or television. Should have turned off the telly and read more comic books.
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Posted: |
May 19, 2010 - 6:39 PM
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By: |
mrscott
(Member)
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Letters to Juliet / Rated PG for rude behavior by an elderly Italian man (the Universal hand gesture usually used by automobile drivers), various Italian’s smoking and a couple of people kissing while sitting on a lawn.
Amanda Seyfried plays Sophie. In “Mama Mia” she also played a girl named Sophie and for all I know this might be the same girl. She sang in MM but does not do so in LTJ. Also for any who are worried, Pierce Brosnan doesn’t sing in LTJ nor does he appear. He also didn’t sing in MM. He tried but what came out sounded like ducks being sucked into a vacuum cleaner. But I digress. Sophie is a young girl who writes for The New Yorker. She is engaged to a cute guy who wants to open an Italian restaurant just before their wedding. So, off they go to Italy for a pre-wedding honeymoon. He becomes obsessed with Italian food and learning from the locals. She wanders around alone. She encounters the balcony in Verona (apparently filmed in Montalcino in the Sienna region but not in the Little Italy section of British Vancouver where they could have gone) where Romeo and Juliet held their famous fictional love scene. There she finds lots of weepy young women who are busy sobbing while writing notes to Juliet and then posting them on the rock wall in the square. At the end of the day a lady comes along, collects the notes, then “Juliet’s secretaries” answer the letters. This is a real event and prizes are awarded annually for the best letter. I am still waiting for my reply. Soph finds a letter behind one of the rocks that has been “lost” since 1957 and answers it. Within minutes Vanessa Redgrave as Claire shows up with her grandson. She received the reply (did they use email?) and the three of them go on the hunt for Claire’s lost love Lorenzo Bartolini who she hasn’t seen for 50 years. Soph continues to be ignored by her fiancée. They travel all over the Chianti/Sienna region of Italy interviewing the 10 thousand perspective Lorenzo Bartolini’s who live in the area. Meanwhile the predictable romance stirs between the stuffy grandson and the ignored Sophie. While the scenery is gorgeous the plot follows a predictable line until the “To Tell the Truth” moment….. will the real Lorenzo Bartolini, winery owner, please stand up? It turns out to be Franco Nero who has a real life relationship with Vanessa R. They recently costarred in the musical Camelot (1967). Well, maybe not that recently. He played Galahad, she played Guenevere. Now he plays Julio Gallo and she plays Claire. For guys this is a chick flick with great scenery. For ladies it is the Holy Grail of Romance, Love and Redemption. That is why I have a dual rating.
Ladies rating 4.0 out of 4.0 smile, smile, cry, cry, weep, weep
Guys rating 2.0 out of 4.0 for the scenery, wine drinking and rude gesture (makes you wanna pump your fist and say Right On!) but not for the unmanly stuff you are forced to sit through.
For others you can split the difference.
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"A Civil Action" 9/10
Saw this some time ago but caught it yesterday again and it hasn't lost its charm for me. Some movies just waste your time, but this one I really enjoyed. Loved Travolta's performance from cocky & arrogant turning to a believer and a fighter to the point of bankruptcy.
William H Macey's performance too is always a delight to watch.
However, Robert Duvall almost steals the limelight with his performance as the odd ball, somewhat creepy opposition.
Highly recommended.
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Posted: |
May 21, 2010 - 6:07 PM
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By: |
mrscott
(Member)
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MacGruber / Rated R for raunchy sex, pervasive bad language, bloody (cartoon like) violence etcetera, etcetera
Paying my respects to the original MacGruber source, I wore my cap to the theater, which featured the Phoenix Foundation logo on the front. The TV show MacGyver (with Richard Dean Anderson now of Stargate fame and the late Dana Elcar) ran from 1986 to 1992 with a total of 139 episodes. Two made for TV films followed in 1994. MacGruber the film is based on actor Will Forte’s character of the same name in skits on the Saturday Night Live comedy show. WF also used the character to create Pepsi Ads that featured Richard Dean Anderson and made it to legendary Superbowl ad status. Lots of MacGyver info and the SNL skits can be found at www.macgyveroneline.com. It was inevitable with the lack of idea’s coming out of Hollywood that the MacGruber character would make it to the big screen. It has and I feel had. What a mess. Kind of like going to the dump and sorting through the trash looking for humor. MacGruber is more like a long series of skits than a real movie. The film features Val Kilmer as the bad guy and a host of big guys from the world of pro wrestling. The movie is a mishmash of bad everything which includes a lack of humor and bad taste that permeates the script. All should avoid this one but especially the fans of the original TV series. Every scene seems to be trying for shock value more than comedy or story. What little there is of both is stunning. Other than the occasional explosion there is not much to keep the audience awake. On the other side of the fence a MacGyver movie that is supposed to be a serious updating of the TV series is in the works. A scriptwriter has finally been hired and a filmable story may be forthcoming. When it appears I will show up, hopeful, and wearing my Phoenix Foundation cap. I had a computer problem while working on this review. Fixed it with my Swiss Army Knife. And some duct tape. And a paper clip.
Rated 1.0 out of 4.0 reasons to check out the entire MacGyver DVD set and look for Della Reese, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Cleavon Little (Sheriff Bart in the Mel Brooks classic Blazing Saddles) in two episodes from 1989 and 1991 that were to become a TV series until the untimely death of Cleavon Little in 1992. Still missing MacGyver and The Coltons who never came to be.
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Posted: |
Jun 2, 2010 - 11:33 AM
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By: |
CinemaScope
(Member)
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A friend lent me a few Blu-rays over the weekend. The Box, it was ok, I quite enjoyed it, but am in no rush to see it again. Pandorum, I've never heard of it, but really enjoyed it. A guy wakes up on a vast spaceship, his memory not quite working, the spaceship is broke, mostly dark & not working....oh, & there's an army of very strong canibal creatures (not unlike those in Decent) on board! The action is great, it looks good, & the ending is very good (which makes a change). After I'd seen it I had a look on the net & it seems most people don't like it, but I'd recommend it.
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Sex and the City II / Rated R for sex and language
Like Raiders of the Lost Ark, SATC2 opens with a scene that is big. Really big. Big enough to be the finale. Unlike ROTLA, which had plenty of big scenes on the way, SATC2 should have understood that this was it and ended the film. This would have cut off the last 2 hours and improved the experience. As a follow up to the original, which was an above average film, this one is headed in the other direction. There is a funny intro scene with flashbacks to how the original 4 ladies looked 20 years ago. Then the big, big scene which features Liza Minnelli conducting a wedding then singing 3 dynamite high energy songs. I’m not try to be catty but the last time I saw Liza she looked liked she just beat out Kirstie Alley at an all you can eat BBQ Hog fest. No more. Unless they computer generated a new body for her she has trimmed down and looks really great at 64. Over time she has had a few trips to rehab clinics for drug and alcohol use and eating enough fat to stop the oil spill in the gulf. She has also had both hips replaced and 3 knee surgeries although she only has 2 knees. In SATCII she dances like Michael Jackson at 16. Welcome back Liza. The rest of SATCII is a mishmash of soap opera and bad comedy. A couple of cameos by Miley Cyrus and Penelope Cruz are on hand. Most of the original series regulars return including Chris Noth and John Corbett. After the big opening the film drags from scene to scene until the second big musical number where the girls karaoke “I Am Woman” which serves to awaken the languishing audience. Near the end the girls turn into the Marx Sisters at the Casbah in an attempt to spark up the finale that finally approaches. The film runs 246 very long minutes, which are only livened up, by the two musical highlights. In 2004 there was an HBO special to lament the end of the original TV series called “Sex and the City: A Farewell”. Unless they can do better than this let’s hope the farewell is for real. Lookin’ good Liza.
Rated 1.9 out of 4.0 due to long a long boring story and the 2 raunchy sex scenes with 53-year-old Kim Cattrall.
mrscott sir, thank you for always putting a smile on my face while reading your reviews.
You have a knack for writing.
Keep it up !
I thank you mrscott.
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Posted: |
Jun 4, 2010 - 6:58 AM
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By: |
mrscott
(Member)
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Sex and the City II / Rated R for sex and language
Like Raiders of the Lost Ark, SATC2 opens with a scene that is big. Really big. Big enough to be the finale. Unlike ROTLA, which had plenty of big scenes on the way, SATC2 should have understood that this was it and ended the film. This would have cut off the last 2 hours and improved the experience. As a follow up to the original, which was an above average film, this one is headed in the other direction. There is a funny intro scene with flashbacks to how the original 4 ladies looked 20 years ago. Then the big, big scene which features Liza Minnelli conducting a wedding then singing 3 dynamite high energy songs. I’m not try to be catty but the last time I saw Liza she looked liked she just beat out Kirstie Alley at an all you can eat BBQ Hog fest. No more. Unless they computer generated a new body for her she has trimmed down and looks really great at 64. Over time she has had a few trips to rehab clinics for drug and alcohol use and eating enough fat to stop the oil spill in the gulf. She has also had both hips replaced and 3 knee surgeries although she only has 2 knees. In SATCII she dances like Michael Jackson at 16. Welcome back Liza. The rest of SATCII is a mishmash of soap opera and bad comedy. A couple of cameos by Miley Cyrus and Penelope Cruz are on hand. Most of the original series regulars return including Chris Noth and John Corbett. After the big opening the film drags from scene to scene until the second big musical number where the girls karaoke “I Am Woman” which serves to awaken the languishing audience. Near the end the girls turn into the Marx Sisters at the Casbah in an attempt to spark up the finale that finally approaches. The film runs 246 very long minutes, which are only livened up, by the two musical highlights. In 2004 there was an HBO special to lament the end of the original TV series called “Sex and the City: A Farewell”. Unless they can do better than this let’s hope the farewell is for real. Lookin’ good Liza.
Rated 1.9 out of 4.0 due to long a long boring story and the 2 raunchy sex scenes with 53-year-old Kim Cattrall.
mrscott sir, thank you for always putting a smile on my face while reading your reviews.
You have a knack for writing.
Keep it up !
I thank you mrscott.
Thanks for smiling. Will keep it up. Do so weekly for the newspaper in Santa Clara, CA. They archive the in print edition for a couple of years so if you are looking for a moving to watch on DVD or skip go to http://scw.tearn.com/search/label/movie and scroll down. See you next weekend.
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