I saw this film about a month ago, and haven't felt like writing a review. I guess you could say I was let down by this Spielberg+Abrams extravaganza. The first half of this film is glorious, and I give it 5 stars. Unfortunately, as the film continues on it gets worse and worse. I give the second half of the film 2 stars, if that. It feels like watching the director's show 'Lost' from start to finish. It starts strong, and then it loses you.
Movie Review: X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class is a pretty good film that sets the right tone for an X-Men movie, bringing it back to a story about teamwork, rather than just letting Wolverine hog all the spotlight. Despite a lackluster choice of physical locations, uninspired sets, and some cheesy special effects for the film, the actors do a great job and the story is compelling. If you like comic books and especially X-Men, you will be quite pleased. It's still a good movie for the average moviegoer too, as long as you can get used to Kevin Bacon as the bad guy.
Would You Like Increased Skin Aging and DNA Damage with Your Summer Tan?
I was surfing Wikipedia recently when I came across the following:
Studies indicate that methylparaben applied on the skin may react with UVB leading to increased skin aging and DNA damage. [1][2]
I remember reading something a few years ago about parabens causing cancer, but no one seems to know if it's true or not. There's a lot of conflicting information out there. In trying to find more information on the web, I kept coming across that line above about a possible skin reaction with methylparaben when exposed to ultraviolet light.
I always try to check the ingredients list of things I buy. It helps me keep away from products that I'm sensitive to. I reached for some sunblock the other day, since it was a billion degrees outside, and I decided to check the label for methylparaben. I am after all putting this on my skin, and then going out into the sun. Sure enough, it was in there. ...continue reading
Movie Review: The Hangover Part II
You've probably heard by now that The Hangover 2 is just a carbon copy duplicate of the original. If you haven't heard that yet, let me be the one to say it. It's hilarious at times, namely from the performances of the talented top billed trio, but even that is sadly overshadowed by the lack of ingenuity from the writers. Director, producer, and co-writer Todd Phillips was more interested in making money than making art. He's playing it safe on every front and not at all straying from the winning formula of the first film. It worked then, so it should work now, right? This film is not lightning in a bottle like the original, it's more like a photo of lightning in a bottle that we already saw already. ...continue reading
Movie Review: Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids is really funny, and sweet too. As nice as it is to see a film written by women and from a female point of view, the story is missing some pieces here and there. This is the first major motion picture written by Kristen Wiig (SNL) and Annie Mumolo (The Groundlings comedy troupe). For a first script it's fantastic, but for a big Hollywood release it feels a bit unpolished at places. In keeping with Judd Apatow's track record, this film is also about 20 minutes too long.
End of the World Signs
Without a clear understanding of how things work, most anything could seem to be a sign from God. Early man must have pondered on how that big fiery thing in the sky could completely vanish at night. Perhaps the glowing life-giving sphere was our creator? God? Whatever helps you sleep at night, I always say. Without any learned knowledge of the universe and our role in it, things in the sky had no better explanation than being something worth worshiping.
When the signs are so clearly not from God, why treat them as if they were? Recently some crackpot radio station owner put up a bunch of signs of his own. It was kind of funny, I know. Especially since he was wrong about his prediction and the world did not end on May 21st as he so loudly proclaimed it would, but some real damage was done. Consequences from something not real are still real consequences. ...continue reading
Movie Review: Thor
Thor feels more like a movie that has to be good rather than just being a good movie. With The Avengers movie looming in the near future Marvel Studios is doing its damnedest to do everything right. Thor is certainly not as enjoyable as films like Iron Man, but it could have been worse in my opinion. This wasn't going to be an easy adaptation from comic book to big screen and I think in that respect they pulled it off well. The Norse God of Thunder that wields a big hammer could have ended up looking stupid, but it surprisingly didn't. Well, not as stupid as I was expecting.
Jumping the Shrek – Curse of the Fourthquel
I remember a time when only straight-to-video animated family films had three or more sequels. I made jokes when The Land Before Time 4 was being released over fifteen years ago, but at least back then fourth-quels knew their place. The recession has recently made Hollywood choose only what seems commercially viable over something with merit. In my opinion they should stick to trilogies. Beyond that you're jumping the shark, like Shrek.
Movie Review: Hanna
Hanna is an exciting movie that's fun while it's happening but leaves you wishing it had more meat to it. The plot was painfully simple. I think the story needed more conflict or different characters or raining frogs at the end; some tasty side dish to accompany the main course of cool action sequences and delicious visuals we are being fed. There's some great things in Hanna, but story details are not one of them. See this film for the imaginative visuals, heart-pounding psychedelic music from The Chemical Brothers, and fascinating performances by the actors, but not to be stimulated intellectually.
Movie Review: Source Code
Source Code is a fascinating story masterfully told by a fairly new yet extremely talented director. Sequences unfold in a satisfying way throughout without being too predictable. It has the fast-paced action of Speed and the addictive narrative style of Groundhog Day. This is a science fiction/action film that happens to also be a great movie; not cheesy or gimmicky like others in the genre (no 3D glasses needed.) It may sound cliché but I literally was on the edge of my seat for most of this smart thriller. I was already sold on the director, Duncan Jones, from his brilliant film Moon. He tackles some of the same meaningful themes in this film that make you think and keep you thinking long after you leave the theater.