Archive Page 2



Baghead

Baghead Poster

Rated: R

Running Time: 84 Minutes

Year: 2008

Nudity: 4 Boobs

One Sentence: It's a scary movie, but it's a comedy.

Last night was the World Premeire of Baghead, the new movie by The Duplass Brothers.  The last movie they did was The Puffy Chair, which was mildly popular in Austin and then has done quite well on rentals.  I never saw The Puffy Chair, so I wanted to get out to see Baghead, as there was a lot of buzz all around Austin about the movie.  I didn't know a lot about the movie and I was not sure if it was going to be scary or funny, it looked like both in the previews.  What I came to find out is, it is both. 

Baghead follows 4 wannabe actors into the woods, where they are going to write the next big screenplay.  Then from there stuff happens.  I am not going to get into it of course, but I do have this to say.  It does not follow the standard horror or comedy formulas at all, and truly I was surprised by the outcome of the movie.  I am not even sure if you could place it into a genre, I put it under comedy, but that is not exactly correct, and I liked it that way. 

I found Baghead to be smart, interesting, fun, scary, and worth watching.  I thought the way the story played out was creative and I personally was totally into the movie.  When it was scary I was very scared and when it was funny I was laughing out loud.  The dialog seemed natural and awkward, and the plot seemed like it fits within the realm of possibility and doesn't seem to go anywhere it should not.  I think people will want to check out Baghead for sure.  It starts this week in Austin and will be added to theaters as it grows, keep an eye out. 

4 Stars 

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Feeds, Tweets, Wiki’s oh my.

 

 

Well today I have arrived ladies and gentlemen!  That is right as of today I am officially on a wikipedia page that I did not put there myself. Sure it is a small link on a small page, but that doesn't matter.  I feel like this is the beginning of something great for me.  I am part of wikiality and that is huge.  Thanks to whomever added me!

If you want to see the post it is about the movie 5-25-77 which I saw a while ago.  Here is the wiki page.   There was also a review for that movie and you can check that out here.

 

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Feeds!  The giant orange icon above is a feed icon.  A feed is a either full or abridged version of a blog sent to a reader that can join many feeds together, then you can read all your blogs from one place.  I have a feed reader and read many blogs.  It allows me to read all blogs from one place and it automatically updates when the blogger makes a new post.  I use google reader.  It's free, it works and I find it to be user friendly.  reader.google.com will take you to where you need to go.   Once you have a reader account on there, you just go to reader.google.com and that page will update with all your feeds.  

So how do you add The Reviewer to your feed?  Look for that icon, on any page, on this page it to the right.  Just click on that little icon and follow the instructions and add it to google reader or whatever reader you use.  Then you can get The Reviewer updated instantly.  No more coming back here to see if I updated.   

 


 

Don't want to deal with feeds, but wan the latest and greatest from The Reviewer?  Or perhaps know more about me than just my reviews?  You can follow my twitter.  My twitter updates with a new review whenever I post one and has other various fun tweet items.  You can just click on the twitter icon above to find my twitter and follow me, I might just follow you too.  

 

So there you go the latest and greatest about the internet and The Reviewer.  How do you get your daily dose of The Reviewer?  Let me know.   Do you have a twitter?  What feed reader do you use?  

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The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk Poster

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 114 Minutes

Year: 2008

Nudity: None

One Sentence: You don't have to wait till the end of the credits on this one.

So this is a remake of The Hulk movie that came out in 2003.  Pretty much everyone is like, fuck that piece of crap movie, this is the real Hulk we are going forward with.  This is the one that we are going to be committing to for The Avengers movie so lets make sure we got it right.  For the most part I think they did.  At least the movie didn't completely suck.

I just don't love The Hulk however, he doesn't seem to strike any type of chord with me.   This new version didn't really deliver a better Hulk.  The Hulk is too monster like with no human in him, or at least not in the movie I watched last night.  He is big and green and has some self awareness, but overall just is angry and growly and doesn't feel like someone I can get behind.  He just seems like an animal.  It got better as the movie went on, but I was not loving this character.  I didn't fall in love with the hulk like I did with Iron Man.  Not only did I not love The Hulk, but I didn't love Bruce Banner either.  It seems like they kept Edward Norton repressed, and he just didn't deliver on the pain that The Hulk should have, it seemed too much focused on his work to do, and not enough the man and his struggle.  This is what we needed with someone as great as Edward Norton.  It just wasn't there. 

So another thing I have started to notice is the flipped switch that is the Marvel movie villan.  Hi, I am a normal guy, and on any other day I would be an upstanding citizen, but today, I got shot with radiation/given a giant machine/shot with radiation/shot with radiation and now I am very evil.  I am ok with killing people, and this guy is my fucking arch enemy now.  This fucking hero and his hero behavior.  I hate that, I am evil, I got shot with radiation for fucks sake.  It just seems like there is no rhyme of reason for these guys to go suddenly bad, I guess it's the radiation.  There is so much going on with the fancy stuff we forget about the men, and that is where Iron Man, and Batman Begins delivered, and I felt Hulk did not.  We need more about these men and women and why they are the power behind the hero or villan.  Not the hero itself.  Overall I felt like The new Hulk is way better than the 2003 version and is totally viewable, but no where near Iron Man. 

3 Stars 

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The Foot Fist Way

The Foot Fist Way Poster

Rated: R

Running Time: 85 Minutes

Year: 2008

Nudity: Some on paper

One Sentence: Not the next great comedy.

The Foot Fist Way is one of those low budget mocumentary type movies, which always are the same.  Well the same except this one does not acknowledge the camera, but it feels just like a mocumentary.  Awkward moments, people and situations that cause you to laugh sometimes, and at other times just sit there and go, this is uncomfortable, and I am not sure if it is funny.

There were some funny parts in this movie and I would say that I was entertained by it, but it just didn't deliver anything great.  It played out almost exactly as I expected, and rarely did it succeed in surpassing my expectations of the movie or the comedy.  The low budget fly on the wall comedy about normal people in their subcultures has I think been exhausted.  These movies can continue to come out and I guess they will carry popularity with their respective subcultures, but they are not going to keep the mainstream audience paying attention.  If I had not gotten a sneak preview for this one I would not have seen it myself. 

There is not much here for anyone.  It is sort of funny in some parts, but I would say you have no reason to go see this in the theater and only rent it if you like that style.  It's low budget film quality, pacing and just everything about the movie overall is not going to get me to recommend it to you even for rental.  

3 Stars 

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Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda Poster

Rated: PG

Running Time: 88 Minutes

Year: 2008

Nudity: None

One Sentence: 10,000 levels of awesome.

I am done with Jack Black, or was done, I should say.  He has not delivered anything great lately and I have just been tired of his specific brand of comedy.  So when I saw the posters for Kung Fu Panda, I was unimpressed with the poster art, or that Jack Black was the lead character.  It did not look good.  I went to the preview anyway, and I can say that I was completely wrong, about Jack Black and this movie.  

Kung Fu Panda was nothing but pure awesomeness for 88 minutes.  From the very first scene to the credits the movie just kicked major ass all around.  It was action packed, funny, sweet, cool, and had killer animation.  The opening scene in the movie rivals those of the best openings ever made.  Especially if you enjoy animation styles.  I can not get enough of this movie, I am willing to go see it again and will probably buy it on DVD, and remember I don't have any kids.  

Jack Black was perfect, and I was regretting him, he toned it down enough that he was met with a perfect happy medium of his style and not his style that worked as Po the Panda.  Tons of other stars rounded out the cast, and all were awesome, Dustin Hoffman, David Cross, Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogan, Lucy Liu and many others.  I can not say a single bad thing about this movie, and I think anyone with kids will be grateful of how great this movie is not just for their kids, but for them as well.  Kung Fu Panda is a must see for the theater with your kids this weekend, and if you don't have kids, this one is still the one to watch. 

4 stars

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Sex And The City

Sex And The City Poster

Rated: R

Running Time:  148 Minutes

Year: 2008

Nudity: 5 Boobs and 1 Penis

I felt like I should not be writing this review, and it is not a movie for me.  I do not feel like I had the right understanding of the people and the focus, which was women.  So I asked my girlfriend monkeyjenn to write a review.  So without further ado, my first guest post.  Leave you comments and tell me and her what you thought of the movie and what you thought of her review, be careful it is a lot longer than mine. - The Reviewer

One Sentence: Not much sex, but lots of city!

I've seen the series twice(possibly 3 times, but I can't remember) and I've even watched many a rerun while flipping channels. I started watching the show right before the last season aired. Thanks to Netflix, I was able to view it all in a matter of weeks. I love me some back-to-back tv series watchin'! The first season was very rocky. I wasn't sure if I liked it, but I was soon hooked by the 2nd season.

I'm actually very glad that I watched it again. The first two times I saw it, I didn't feel like it related to my life much. But this last time, I was single when I began watching it and I found it very educational. Sounds corny, but it's true.

As much as I love the quirky characters and the show, I was not waiting for this movie with breathe that is bated*.
I was looking forward to seeing the girls again and finding out what "Carrie in a wedding dress" was all about. Not that I didn't really know. I went into this movie expecting it to be mediocre and, well, it didn't disappoint.

It's basically a very long sex and the city episode. There are funny moments, but there are also way too many roll your eye moments. I got dizzy a few times just from rolling my eyes. There were too many lame puns, which were often exchanged between Carrie and Louise (Jennifer Hudson).

For me, the addition of Hudson's character felt a bit forced and stiff, but I liked her, except for the bad puns. I don't see them bringing her back for a sequel though. I pray to Jeebus that there isn't a sequel! Do we really need to know what they are doing in their fifties? And I definitely don't need to see Carrie in any more ugly couture and looking even paler. Seriously, why do they keep trying to make her look whiter? Her skin was almost the same shade of white as her wedding dress. Maybe a couple of shades lighter!

Too much of this movie was predictable for me. Granted, the series had the same flaw, but somehow managed to be okay in short 30 minute episodes. I was hoping for a little more from this movie. Although, there was one major plot point that surprised me. I'm not going to discuss it because it would be a huge spoiler, but I think it will surprise most people.
Oh! And there was an unexpected moment that involved a poop joke that made me laugh really hard.

Spoiler alert! Not really…
Somewhere in the 5th hour of this movie, the plot seemed to suddenly shift from being about Carrie and the gals to just love. Yes, I know the series has always been about love and finding love, but this was different. We're not talking about Carrie's love for Mr. Big or any of the other ladies. It was just focused on the word love. There's a point where Carrie is at her computer and all she has typed on her screen is "Love." Then there's the damn "love" keychain! Bleh.

I get it! This movie is all about L-O-V-E! I don't need it pounded into my skull. To quote Steve, "Ah geesh…"

Ok, so…all that being said, I still liked the movie and think it's worth going to see in the theater if you are a huge fan of the show. Just drink cocktails beforehand or do what a friend of mine did and smuggle in a bottle of vodka to add to your soda.

For a major fan like me, you will like seeing the girls together again. It kind of felt like seeing old friends and I'm sure that was their intention. There were some scenes that were all about the four girls just enjoying each other's company and I found that to be comforting and sweet.

If you aren't a big fan and/or haven't seen the series, wait to rent it. And drink while you watch it in the comfort of your own home.
Another bonus if you rent it is that you can avoid all the atrocious movie previews. Seriously, they made me want to puke into my popcorn.
Unfortunately, due to the huge success of this movie, you can expect even more cheap knockoffs to come out soon. Lots of executives thinking that four, crazy leading women equals box office gold! Yay! I'm sure the Reviewer can't wait to critique all of them.

MonkeyJenn

* True fans of the show know what this is from. :-)

3 Stars 

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Sex And The City - The Series

Sex And The City

Rated: TV - NR

Running Time: 6 Seasons

Year: 1998-2004

Nudity: Yes lots.

One Sentence: I am officially a woman now.  

I am dedicated, dedicated to you all, not just do I watch movies, and help you make the wise choices with your hard earned dollars, that are spreading thinner and thinner every day, but I also do the ultimate for all of you.  I prepare.   I knew about the biggest movie of the summer (according to some) coming out today and I decided if I was going to watch it and give it a proper review I would have to sit down and watch all of Sex And The City.  The journey started 2 months ago.  I have watched 90 episodes in that time.  I have 4 more to go which I will be watching tonight.  I have made my girlfriend extremely happy, and I have made my male friends extremely ashamed.  I have pretty much only had Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte on my mind for that time, and except for the small breaks of movies, I have not watched anything else.  (Sorry LOST and Scrubs, ill get back to you on Monday)

So what do I think.  I think I get it, I think I know why, and it makes sense.  High Fashion, fancy parties, wonderful restaurants, beautiful men, babies, marriage, and 480 dollar shoes, it all makes sense, that it would be something iconic for women.  It is the literal visual translation of romance novels, set in New York City.  It is the needing a man, independent, beautiful, family oreniented powerful woman they all want to be with their wonderful girlfriends, who are all wonderful together.  It's what dreams are made of and makes it almost real.  So real in fact that this weekends movie release has the chance to beat out Indiana Jones in money made for a weekend.  

And it should.  This show does not suck in any way.  It is everything that I think every man should hope for in their required watching by their women.  It is smart, funny, sexy, and vulgar.  It deals with lots of issues, not just men and love, it deals with sex, dirty sex, taudry sex, and any other type that can come up.  It deals with understanding of women, but of men too, and it does it all with a slight humor that is not brainless and horrible.  It does not follow the mold of a horrible romantic comedy, and in the end, not everything ends up roses for all parties.  Men should be lining up to see this series over romantic comedies, they will have a better time with it, and will think it far less brain dead than Failure To Launch.  So if they ask you to watch the series men, you should say yes, because if it is not these 4, it could be a whole lot worse. 

4 Stars 

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