The Muppets Movie

Let me lay this out right now, I am a huge fan of the Muppets. I've seen the show. I've watched the movies and I love them all. (Except the Wizard of Oz one, that I do not believe should be counted as one of the Muppets movies). And when I heard that they were remaking the Muppets for a new movie, with Disney heading it, I was pessimistic. In almost every remake of something that was funny, wholesome, and classic, the studio has a tendency to, how to I put this delicately? - Obliterate, destroy, ruin, and tear to shreds in a mouth-foaming frenzy the innocence of it. Making it more edgy, darker, and all around stained, thinking that they are appealing to this generation.

But what the Muppets Movie proves is that the best is timeless. You don't need to shade it to try to make it more appealing a generation later. They successfully show that the Muppets are timeless, no matter your age.

Growing up as a puppet in a human family can be rough. You are always the same height, everyone counts you out, and it's impossible to find someone to relate to. That is how Walter felt (get it?). Sure he had a good family, and a brother that loved him more than he loved his girlfriend (an error he balanced out later in the film), but life was for people, not puppets. That is, till a TV show aired. That show, that was new and shiny back then is what is known as the "Muppet's Show" today. The show told him that although you may be out of place, and a bit fuzzy, you can still be loved by millions, and that you have a place.

As the years go by, Walter grows up (relatively speaking) but he never gives up his never ending love for the Muppets. As he soon learns, that is something the Muppets themselves have given up. And as an oil tycoon sets his wrecking balls on Muppet's Studio, it's up to Walter to make the Muppets what they do best, come together in a movie.

I was almost sure when I walked into the theater that Disney would give the Muppets an edge, but as the movie played I learned that they took what made the show great and did.......nothing to it! They kept it in it's golden glory, not even dipping its Hollywood toes in the 80s movies. Sealing the brilliant Muppety innocence in the vacuum sealed goodness of the original show.

I don't know what really more I can say about this. It's a Muppets movie, and if you've ever seen one you can't really describe it outside the phrase "It's great!"

The Muppet's characters were untouched by 21st century's hands, keeping the pure, fuzzy love at it's pinnacle goodness. The added characters convince you that they've been in every Muppets venture, that's how good they blend in. They are charming, funny, and as smart/clueless as the rest of the Muppets.

Using spontaneous dance numbers and moments where the cast themselves point out the hilariousness of the movie they have found themselves in, coupled with brilliant celebrity cameos that the Muppet Movies are known for, this movie gives us great scripts and bellowing laughs as we watch the wonderful Muppets characters do what they do best, just....being.....Muppets.

How movies change things: Lightsabers

Ah, another fictional word that, because of a movie, everyone knows about!
I can tell right now that you are wondering why I am talking about a glorified glow stick. So stop wondering and listen.

In this post I want to show how one movie changed every one's mindset. This is something films do, change mindsets, the more popular the movie, the more ingrained into society it is.
When Mr. Lucas had this crazy idea for "StarWars" he came up with the "sword made of light" he probably thought that it was pretty cool, but it was just an effect, he probably never thought it would become an icon. But now as we all know, Lightsabers have there own Wiki page, more people know about them than StarWars, and you can look in you dictionary and locate it.

People every now hide away in there rooms, away from the eyes of friends and family, swoosh their imaginary saber around the room, matching the sounds using their mouths only to change their woosh sounds into a scream of horror as a parent barges into the room.
Not only that but almost every kid's show, every sifi, and every youtube video has a lightsaber, or their own spin on it. And all of this because of just one film.

Now I wonder what if we stopped creating weapons and starting creating morals.

One of the most hit videos on youtube is a lightsaber fight called Ryan Vs. Dorkman

Kid's TV show character Jimmy Neutron wielding what looks like a sword made of light.

In a major videogame "Supersmash Bros. Melee" characters can use the item "LightSword"

DVD TIME: Cars 2

This last week another Pixar film came out on Bluray, so if you haven't seen it in theaters, I hope that this review will help you decide to run over to RedBox right now! But, uh, don't trip.

Pixar never fails to bring us a fresh new idea, even if they are recycling one of their old ones, and Cars 2 is no exception!

This time instead of racing and fixing egos, this Cars movie revolves around believe it or not, SPIES! Which is quite clever if you think about it, one of the coolest gadgets a spy has is his car. Spy Cars that can shoot missiles, fly and burn rubber are all a part of this flick, but the way Pixar does it makes James Bond wish he was a car.

This is the most filled out Pixar movie I have ever seen, there is not a single scene where they could have added another thing. The movie was a completely basted turkey with all the trimmings. It's one of those movies where you wish that you could view the entire film in slow motion just so you could see each and every minute detail!

But sadly, the most of characters that you all knew and loved in the last were somewhat "hollow" last second additions to the movie. They were all nothing but a shell of their former selves (a little joke for the people who know computer animation). Mater is the only exception for he is the star of the film and the new characters replace the old in a way that "somewhat" makes it "ok". Somehow I think that the only reason they kept the old characters is so they could make some money in a toy deal.

But one thing I did not expect in this race em up, is that it would also be a "shoot em up". Cars get blown up, shot, and tortured until they writhe in pain and die a painful death.......something I was not expecting in a "G" rated kids film. I don't know how the ratings board let this film get a "G". And these being colorful Pixar characters, it makes the violence worse. In one cringing scene we see the cubed remains of an agent car. But if you remove the few violent scenes that I have all mentioned here, you've got yourself one heck of an action film!  

Characters and violence aside, Pixar out did themselves in this film. It was a good film, but a classic summer movie with explosions and shiny things. But I did not try in any way to make this flick sound bad, it was another great pixar movie, a movie everyone needs to see and enjoy!

Captain America

Captain America has been reinvented by marvel in a desperate attempt to salvage what is left of the American way. Only one problem... Does anyone remember the American way?

This has been my most anticipated Marvel movie, something about superheroes and the 1940s really spoke to me and it said "cool". But then I finished watching it the disembodied voice finally said "I tried to be cool."

WARNING, NERD RANT:

The movie was too unrealistic and fast-paced. The technology available to the Germans was better than what we have available today! If they wanted watchers to believe what was going one they would have made more effort to preserve the integrity of the year the movie was taking place in! Not only that but the damage the Germans did with these weapons caused many towns to crumble, if they wanted people to be convinced then why wouldn't they explain why these destructions where completely wiped from history?!? Now down to the fast paced part, the movie would not let you get close to any of the characters. In fact, they killed off a main character before you even had a chance to care! The movie just kept a truckin, one second you are at a fair, the next you seeing Cap get muscles, next thing you know he's on Broadway, then he breaks into one of the most fortified compounds known to man.....by himself without any formal training whats-so-ever, then he's promoted, forms a band of misfit fighters (With an American Asian solder, which, if I know my history, wasn't all Asians sent to a consentrason camp after pearl harbor?) Then he's on a train, then a bike, then he beats the bad guy...... As with Thor, character development was almost non-existant.


Sorry, the nerd in me took over. But in all seriousness, it was a movie, more fun than action. It wasn't meant to be realist, it was just simply made to be a film. For amusement (not thinking). And to get Capt. in the film series before the avengers comes out.

If you ask me, I would call the movie Marvel's attempt at family movie night, but if you ask me another question, I would say the the video game had a way better plot.

Movie Credits

Ask anyone who knows me and they will confirm that I always say "I always judge the quality of a movie by it's credits." And if you don't stay till the end of the credits, you are lame. You aren't giving these thousands of people credit.......and you might miss out on some cool last clip.

Now why you ask do I do that? That is because credits are supposed to be fun! The end of a movie, when the tension dies down, when you finally get to wipe your eyes from laughing so hard, when you can breath a sigh of relief! If you can tell that they spent no money on the end, you can bet that these people didn't love making the film.

My favorite credits are ones that fill in the gap, where you find out what happens after the happily ever after! Along with the ones that aren't over the top, like iRobot, where bits of tech-looking lines pop up according to the music in a very dramatic fashion, to match the drama of the movie.
Remember, credits match the mood of the movie, look for it the next time you watch a film!

Here are two credits that mirror the film.
Bolt, which shows the carefree fun, and whimsey of the movie using a different yet equally as effective art style
And iRobot, which shows the drama, without the need for many visuals.

Special effects, something great, something amazing, something overused by Michael Bay. Effects are usually what makes a film now a days, can you imagine the Transformers films without the Transformers? Nope. That's why effects are so important, they are used to suspend belief, open imaginations and shape worlds. Yet sadly that can also be used to replace the story, like Tron Evolution, or Transformers 3. These movies really had no plot because the companies that made them thought that they could solely use the effects to rake in the cash. What did we learn from this? It don't work.

Now why, you ask, would I bring up the subject of effects? That is because I would like you to become an effects artist! How? You ask? Well, I must say that you ask a lot of questions. You will be able to start using the magic of special effects using FXLab! A easy to use, fun to see, effects program an elf with a learning disability could use! Please enjoy and be creative! Oh, and did I mention that there was a free, un-expiring demo?

fxhome.com

Fatherhood, something hard, something messy, something rewarding. Yet it is something few people experience. Sure they have kids, they love them, but they are never really fathers. If God is our example of a father figure 99% of dads across the world are missing the mark. But what if they realized this, what if they strove to right the wrongs, fight the fights, and win back the hearts and minds of their children, then give them back to God? This is what Courageous is about, answering that one "what if?" and then some.

Now I have been fan of the Kendrick brothers since their first film "Flywheel”. Two brothers that looked at the movies today and realized its application in the spiritual realm. From their first attempts at holding a camera steady to this movie, God has had their backs, and I was happy enough to be able to be one of the first to view the fruits of their labor.

As many of you know, I enjoy making films, and I know about many of the mechanics that go into making a movie. Not only that but I am a avid movie watcher, not just for entertainment-but for dissecting. And when I went to see this film, I knew that their last film "Fireproof" was a good movie, but it still gripped tight to that "New filmmaker" smell. For this, I was expecting something like Fireproof, only more polished. I was wrong. What I got was a full MMA HD smack down for my eyeballs, my sight and expectations lost, but high quality and pure filmmaking expertise stood over their remains holding the championship belt. And when my eyes finally recovered, they didn't have a moment of down time, this film was brilliantly layered, there was always something going on, and all of it was needed.

This film was sheer filmmaking perfection, color grades, editing, camera shots, all done for the glory of God. I am angry at my keyboard's pure lack of ability to relay how I truly feel about the movie. Acting was brilliant, you saw pure, unacted emotions on these people's faces, making every bit of drama completely your own. When characters shed tears, theirs hit the ground right next to yours. They showed fathers this is life, and that God is with you though all of it. This is where the always present "negative paragraph" goes. But I shooed it away, this movie deserves nothing but respect, because obviously, it had God's.

Fathers in this fallen world rarely stick around. They want nothing to do with their sons, daughters, and spouses. And because of this, earth falls deeper into the black pit it dug for itself. Crime rates rise, young suicides pour into it, and bitter hearts cause this black concoction to spill over the sides of the glass and onto humanity, making for a drowning world without the respect for God only daddies can teach. This movie shows fathers that they have a bigger part in this life than they thought, and that there is no way out of it, because you are either a good father, or a bad one. You stay a father period.  But the choice is yours. Will you let your children drown in this world, filling up their lungs with the gunk fathers before you left? Or will you be a part of the clean up team, protecting your kids from the world, showing them God's love? To teach them to do the same as you, so they may dry the world and make it presentable for the second coming. Will you sign the resolution and increase your accountability or just sit back on the couch, scratch your stomach, and merely be a spectator?

This movie opened my eyes to something as well, although I am not a father odds are, I will be. This frightens me terribly, I fear that I will not be able to fully be the father my son/daughter deserves but this movie shows that I will never be. Not without help. It says that fatherhood without the inventor of it is doomed to failure. But with him, you will have the strength to outweigh the world for your children. In the mean time, for now, I just need to prepare my heart for it. Do not just see this movie to support, view to learn, view to cry, view to show that God is in this with us. "As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord."

But this movie did something else, it opened my eyes to a job I was completely oblivious to, even though it was being performed in my own home. I never realized what all went into my dad's job as a father before. I never knew that it was so grueling and demanding. I never knew that he deserved a great deal more respect than I was giving him. But now I do. But for me, I am just happy that my father was already doing what the movie teaches perfectly.

I love you dad.

Every man is important when working on a movie, and today I would like to focus on some of the most important people in the industry-the editors. The editor's main job is to make the movie flow together, to make the film watchable. But what many people fail to see is that they just don't click and drag, they are artists, and the movie is their canvas. This ain't no paint-by-numbers. They have to decide what scenes or angles will work together, which ones would present the best emotion for the scene, and which ones would go together unnoticed. To show you the true meaning of the film editor, and to save me time trying to tell you about my experiences as an editor, I will show you this awesome youtube video about the spirit of the editors working on the movie "Iron Man 2"

Summer movies are coming to an end sadly, but to be frank with you (Frank is always honest, you should meet him sometime) there were not many good movies that dropped into theaters this year. Now what are you doing? Don't throw away your popcorn and local theater gift certificates that relatives gave you because they forgot about your birthday. Movies are still a movin! Here are three films that are awaiting your eyes. Though you may want to wait till the DVD of Abduction to come out.

Courageous: I've been following the Kendrick brothers since their first film "Flywheel" and it encourages me to see them getting backed by Sony, and kicking Box Office butt. But this is not just a movie you see to "support" your beliefs, it's a movie with a meaning, and an ordination from God. This is definitely one you need to see.










Abduction: filled with unknowns, thrills and conspiracy Abduction reminds me of Eagle Eye. It is a movie you'd want to see if you are into explosions. Though I believe the language barrier is being pushed.

Real Steel: I've been waiting for this film since June. Effects, fighting robots, And the same effects company that worked on the Transformers movies, what more can a growing boy ask for?

Soul Surfer

Things were looking up for Bethany Hamilton, she had a loving family, a God that loved her, a best friend, and a promising future doing the thing she loves best-surfing. Not to mention two loving brothers that perfectly fit the role of comedic relief. But this all changes when she starts putting waves before God. God tests her faith in a way that will change her world. She looses her arm in a shark attack, something that could end her career as a surfer and her dreams. But she finds that God's plans for her are not her own, and that everything will be ok on the waves using unwavering faith.

This is her true story.

When we started pushing this at the book store I'm working at, I was a little optimistic. It seems that now a days Christian movies are the same old script, same old tale, and same old bad photography. But to push a movie, you got to know it. So one night I shelled out twenty bucks, bought the blu-ray, set up a flat screen in my dark room and popped it in. And what I saw was impressive and touching yet at the same time a little unsettling.

This is my true story analyzing her story.

If you read the cover, you'd know that Bethany Hamilton is alive and well today, this is a true story. How much the movie kept to her real story I don't know. But I must say that this movie was as touching and well written as God's real tale of Bethany. Though not quite as perfect as God's.

There was a lot of blue in the movie, since the ocean was where most of it took place. The photography made sure you got the full impact of the waves and the breathtaking scenery of beautiful Hawaii, making you feel like you are soaked to the skin during a vacation that you and your wallet will never have. The movie is a great experience not unlike soaking your eyes in a bowl of Hawaiian Punch.

The characters and actors in the film played their part perfectly, causing this "Drama in Seaworld" to truly come together. The movie is not all about the color blue though, there was stress (the director did a good job of keeping you on the edge of your seat for the shark attack.....that won't happen for another twenty minutes) not only stress but love, drama, and true feelings were coming out of my small flatscreen. These emotions made the movie good.

But let's sit down here, I need to tell you something rather sad, but more so, shocking. You see, when you make a movie, especially to a secular world, you need something to push it. A formula, if you will. When it comes to kid's movies, you need humor. Animal movies, apparently you need crude jokes. But the formula that Sony picked for this film was, skin. Since for surfing you need swimsuits Sony decided to cash in on that secular goldmine, enough to keep it Christian-themed, but just enough to get some dimwitted males to go. Though innocent and unnoticeable at first, you start to pick up on the certain camera angles and clothing, along with one certain competitor who's wardrobe resembled a shark attack in itself.

But that flaw aside, the movie was a very well put together piece dripping with good writing. Though touching at times I feel that the movie had sadly more skin than God. To put it frankly, To much Surf but not enough Soul.

Buy worthy, but not quite up there with Fireproof.

Eureka

"Eureka": A cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something.


This is one thing Marshal Jack Carter does not do when he discovers Eureka, a small town in the middle of nowhere no one knows about, and never will. With his car totaled he has no other choice than to stay in the town for a few days until it is fixed, a task that he finds a little hard to do since the D.O.D is telling him to mind his own business and not to touch anything. And with strange happenings in the town going on, the townsfolk showing their true colors and the town's sherif out of commission, he can't just sit around and do nothing!
Before he knows what's happening he is being forced to sign a nondisclosure agreement and is told that this odd town he found himself in is a top-secret community for the world's best, brightest and strangest. But something's going wrong, and they need him to help.
With wormholes, dogs, and a people that blow things up daily in a science-fuiled glee, this town both attracts and repels him but when his car is finally fixed tables are turned, Eureka needs a sherif-and he fits the bill.


The mixture of oddball characters and a unique plot gives this series a impressive flare that leaves a taste in your mouth, the kind of taste that makes you slowly inch toward the bag for just one more. It gives you a blot of science fiction with a likable hint of possibility, like what these people are actually doing in their little sciencey worlds are doable, not just something writers are making up to be cool.


The characters, who are the worlds best scientists live in a suburban world where one might ask his neighbor "Hey Phil, you mind if I borrow your plasma cutter for my hedges?" These characters are all quirky, smart, funny, backwards, and all oblivious that they are any of those. They look at Jack, the only normal one, and think that he is the only odd one. This world of non stereotypical characters with Mr. Normal thrown in gives this series an awesome storyline where it's not just the plot that keeps you staring, it's the mere conversations between characters that make it watchable.


Though it is a very colorful and creative show, the blend of "normal words" and "graphic scenery" makes it wobble. As in we get to see mutilated animals appear every now and then along with sex-crazied hosts and words not meant to be said in front of your children and apparently your parents as well. What makes me sad is that although this is a problem, it's stereotypical, and expected. In other words, if you watch TV, you can watch this. "Safe peril" is also included. "Safe peril" is where although a life-threatening event in happening, you still feel like everything is going to be ok. This is something that I rather like.    


In conclusion, this series gives you a break from normal TV, where the cops need to catch the robber, the surgeon needs to sow, where you can't see a show without guns being fired to pad time. This show gives you color, fun, and wishful thinking full of a longing for citizenship to this strange town, because to live in any other show you would live under the constant fear of being shot. In this show, although violence does happen, and deaths do appear, the show provides an allusion of security making you feel like the characters are safe. Though the animals in it may not be :)

Back in the Saddle

After two months of "air" the blog has dusted off its pants, grunted, and hopped right back onto the update horse. Just in time for Cowboys and Aliens, Sherlock Holmes, and Winnie the Pooh. No more lallygagging my friends, it's time for action, lights and cameras that is!

Movie Review: Cars 2

Pixar never fails to bring us a fresh new idea, even if they are recycling one of their old ones, and Cars 2 is no exception!

This time instead of racing and fixing egos, this Cars movie revolves around believe it or not, SPIES! Which is quite clever if you think about it, one of the coolest gadgets a spy has is his car. Spy Cars that can shoot missiles, fly and burn rubber are all a part of this flick, but the way Pixar does it makes James Bond wish he was a car.

This is the most filled out Pixar movie I have ever seen, there is not a single scene where they could have added another thing. The movie was a completely basted turkey with all the trimmings. It's one of those movies where you wish that you could view the entire film in slow motion just so you could see each and every minute detail!

But sadly, the most of characters that you all knew and loved in the last were somewhat "hollow" last second additions to the movie. They were all nothing but a shell of their former selves (a little joke for the people who know computer animation). Mater is the only exception for he is the star of the film and the new characters replace the old in a way that "somewhat" makes it "ok". Somehow I think that the only reason they kept the old characters is so they could make some money in a toy deal.

But one thing I did not expect in this race em up, is that it would also be a "shoot em up". Cars get blown up, shot, and tortured until they writhe in pain and die a painful death.......something I was not expecting in a "G" rated kids film. I don't know how the ratings board let this film get a "G". And these being colorful Pixar characters, it makes the violence worse. In one cringing scene we see the cubed remains of an agent car. But if you remove the few violent scenes that I have all mentioned here, you've got yourself one heck of an action film! 

Characters and violence aside, Pixar out did themselves in this film. It was a good film, but a classic summer movie with explosions and shiny things. But I did not try in any way to make this flick sound bad, it was another great pixar movie, a movie everyone needs to see and enjoy!

Movie Characters

Most people do not understand one of the most important items in a movie and that is the beloved characters.

I always say that "If I don't want the characters to hang around after the credits, the movie is not worth watching."

If you can't relate to any of the characters in the smallest of ways then you've lost one of the key components in a film. The characters need to breath, have a life all their own, and make you laugh or cry. A film is not just a pastime, it's an attempt at trying to follow in God's creative footsteps, only God can create life, but making a movie character is the closest thing you can get to doing that in this life. When a filmmaker comes up with a character and gives it life he is overcome with joy! And if that is how it feels when you make a fictional character, just imagine what joy God felt when he made humans, but also how much pain he must have felt when we turned on him.

Just as you would walk over to a friend's house to see said friend, to a lesser degree you would turn on the TV to see the characters again! Characters like Spongebob, Doofenshmirtz, and dare I say it Edward from Twilight, are characters people end up loving (some more unhealthily than others) and characters that once on the screen, take on a life of their own! Would you still watch Spongebob without Spongebob? Or would you still watch your favorite movie without the characters?

Joe Moshier, the lead character designer for the movie Bolt said "...The thing about designing is you can create characters that kids want to meet at Disneyland or become friends with in their minds, that's exciting to me."

Although I can't create life like the one and only true God, I can't wait to become a true filmmaker and come as close as I can to breathing life into a new creation!
And with mine, it can only turn on me if I turn on God.

Gnomeo and Juliet

"Oh, Gnomes now?"

Ok, have you ever had to watch a movie and the whole time leading up to it you knew it was going to completely stink? So you know it? Have you ever been wrong about it? Yes? Good! But now let me ask you have you ever been wrong and right about it? No? Well then prepare to watch Gnomeo and Juliet.

There has been tension between two neighboring garden gnomes for years "The Reds" VS "The Blues" but not till now has there ever been a spark of romance between a Red and a Blue (Guess what their names are) but also it's not till now that a full blown war is established between the colors. During this heated battle Gnomeo and Juliet try to keep their colors calm and their love a secret but can the love survive while Shakespeare and a water-spitting frog say it's DOOMED? Well, it's a children's film, so it will.

I was sure that this film was going to do rather poorly, and I believe it did, but I also believe that it would have done better if people (like me) were not so put off by talking Gnomes. The movie did something I did not expect, it didn't sick to a formula. Most movies today, "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Smerfs" ect. make their ideas and money based on a formula. And without a previous movie to copy off the movie would never make it into it's production stage.

But this movie did not take that route, which, in the long run helped it. You could not guess the next scene, which kept you on your feet (and I enjoyed that) The characters were smart, lovable, yet goofy. They also came equiped with puns that only the "upper-aged" would get and laugh at, not to mention the little slap-stick moments for the younger class.

But also to a certain degree the movie had what I expected, a tart taste to everyone over twelve years of age, you know, the moments that make you think that you are too old to be watching this, making this movie somewhat too childish, silly, and trying a little too hard just to make a few cheap laughs here and there. But still it had its moments, and although it is not a movie I would consider purchasing, it's a movie that I can enjoy when my younger brother pulls it out.

Don't judge a book by its cover, read the back too.

Coming soon to a blog near you!

Sorry everyone for the "reviewless week" but I have been busy, very busy. But I am now promising a bounty of reviews for everyone! It will flow like water, an abundant flow that will refuse to be corked!
Yes, I offer this and more to my faithful readers, be on the look out for these movie reviews coming soon!

Movie Review Drought

Sorry everyone again for no reviews, there seems to be nothing to watch (or time to be had) but not to worry, I have something for you all!

This is a trailer for a movie coming out in October I believe. This movie looks amazing, fun, and yet to be done (IT RHYMES!!) I hope to view it soon...uh...when it comes out. Now what makes this trailer so special? It is simple, you see, this trailer had a verbal "no-no" moment which I have graciously taken out for your viewing pleasure, enjoy movie watchers of America!

Goosebumps anyone?

By the way, if anyone would like to know the name of the music played in the trailer, let me know (I was nerdy enough to purchase it)

Many sorries my faithful readers

Due to the fact that today I have seen no new movies, you will be left reviewless for the next few days. Now, don't cry, I know how much this means to you but it cannot be helped! So as you dry your eyes look toward the future, and toward my next review!

Haven't heard of it either eh? Well, I am not surprised, this was a direct to DVD stink burger that got a not-so-shocking 3.1 out of 10 stars on IMDB! I hope to review it and hopefully, survive it.

Also I heard that cameraman suffered seizures through the entire film.

Movie Review: The Green Hornet

I remember the old TV show "The Green Hornet and his masked ward Kato" what a good TV show. And when I heard that they were making a Green Hornet movie, I had goose bumps! I waited a long time for this movie, and if you're looking for the classic Green Hornet kicking butt using his superior intellect.......keep looking.

You heard me, everything I loved and expected from the classic has been removed and replaced.......replaced with content that might just make the movie likable if you just pretended "This guy is not the Green Hornet I know". Yeah Seth Rogan kinda ruined everything about the Lime-colored stinger, but, I have to say he did a rather good job making up for it.

When Britt Reid's father died from a rather ironic bee sting, Britt's already shaky life crumbles to dust. But he finds he's not alone, his father's old mechanic/coffee maker has something in common with him.....he also hated Reid's dad... after a couple of beers and some sharing of frustrating tales they decide to do something crazy, break the law. The only problem is that they timed it wrong, they made it to the crime scene just in time to....save someone. A twist they did not see coming, but one that left them with tingles and in mere seconds they decide to spend a half a million dollars and become super heros known as the Green Bee! Which was later changed to the nicer sounding, Green Hornet.

Reid sheds his suave, sophisticated personality in this film to become a 35 year old 5 year old with a craving for beer and an allergy to the smarts... And Kato changes his undying loyalty to Britt for a deep down "Anti Reid" complex. Confused? Well, so am I. But I am cutting Rogan some slack, he obvioulsy was a fan of the show and this was just a movie he wanted to have fun with.......while giving some die-hard Green Hornet fans a stroke at the same time, but that's besides the point. Although these characters are twisted from the original, these "New Characters" are fun and are very different (in the "Ok" sense of the word) this makes them new hornet creations that make the movie watchable.......its just too bad they're carrying copyrighted names.

This movie has great lines, funny moments (lots o funny moments), hard-core action, and kick-butt cars, its a  movie in fact, that I want to watch again, and maybe even buy. But that is if I get get past the fact that this movie, in no way, has anything to do with the Hornet I know.

P.S. ClearPlay should be your buddy with this film, for some reason Seth placed around 40 S-words in there, just sayin...

X-Men: First Class, a movie completely ruined

It seems as though the pure awesomeness of this action film has been lost thanks to bodies........dead ones and uncovered ones.

Apparently you do need to reveal a lot of cleavage to save the world......the 21st century movie world....
It's very depressing that they would have to add the usage of the the "F" word and the vain use of Christ's name to get people of this time and age to view the film. Not to mention the heavy sexual theme that has mutants getting into bed with other mutants, do you really need this? Really?

What really makes me sad is the fact that Fox is completely oblivious to the fact that they are losing people because of these unneeded additions to the script. But what makes me even more upset is the number of people they are losing.....is a rather small number. People please, you say that you are disgusted at such things yet you go to the film and say you liked it! If you want clean movies you need to hurt the profits of the filmmakers by not going! This doesn't mean you don't see it, with great inventions like the clearplay you can view it, all it takes is a little patience.

You went to see the film for the action.....not shape shifters with an allergie to clothes, and you need to let Fox know that.

For the full review of the movie, please visit Pluggedin.com's review

Next Review

The next review will be on a movie that has been out awhile.......well, for the next few reviews I will be doing them on current DVDs because I have to wait till I can get to the theater again....anywho, the next review will be on "The Green Hornet" this is a rather green year, hasn't it?

Movie Review: I am Number 4

After looking at it's description I was excited, so I decided to place it on my Netflix cue and waited sure enough it was placed in my mail box and the very next day I placed it in my dvd player and watched it. There is only one thing I can say.......it was a movie....

After his leg starts glowing and bleeding during a late night swim with a girlfriend (it ruined the moment worse than yelling "FLEE!") "Four" (the undercover alien) finds out that "Three" has been killed. This meant that he was next, although they never explained why they must be killed in order. If I were the bad guy I would kill them in a random sequence and they would never know I was coming.......but let the writers have their moment....
After the death of Three, Four and his Guardian set out for a different life with new identities in the hope that this villain with an "order complex" doesn't find them. Well, he does.

I guess you could enjoy the movie.....after you drove your truck through the hole in the plot. No one says how they got there, why they needed to be killed in order, why didn't the whole "Number family" stay together if they are "more powerful" as a group and how the shape shifting lizard-beagle got there in the first place! Also, about 95% of the movie was about "Four" trying "fit in" with the crowd in high school and fall in love with a girl, who he (spoiler) leaves in the end! Dude, we aren't watching this movie to see you get together with a girl that you end up leaving with her ex-boyfriend...

The movie was too fast during the scenes you wanted to see and too slow in the scenes you didn't care about. And far too many questions were unanswered.  Not to mention the lame props...

The whole thing looked like a Cartoon Network movie special. With Sci-fi, huge prop guns, bad guys in trench coats and special effects that they had to use with discretion because they were on a budget..."Twilight" meets meets "Skyhigh" meets "Race to Witch Mountain" to put it lightly.

Once again I go back to the most important thing in the movie, the characters. These characters were way too stereotype-ish, The nerd, the football jockey jerk, the high school love interest, and our hero, the misunderstood teen that is having a hard life with his family and is trying just to "fit in". Its been done before....but the glowing hands are new.


Basically, you wont find anything new or special about this movie, its been done before and to death. In the end they made room for a sequel.......but I doubt they'll make it to one.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow's review will be on a movie that just recently came out on DVD, "I am Number 4"

Movie Review: Kung Fu Panda 2

YES! Just before midnight I was able to get a review on!

Just got back from the showing and was planning to go right to bed- but I have just enough soda in me to write a review. When I heard that Kung Fu Panda 2 was not doing as good as its predecessor, I wasn’t surprised, it seemed as though by the trailers that the movie was just a repeat of the last-but after viewing it I realized something. I was dead wrong.

Now how would they make Kung Fu Panda 2 as-nay-better that the last? Easy, by adding the same likable characters and throwing them into unbelievable action scenes- epic will not begin to describe the big-bellied “awesomeness” that was put on the screen before me.

Angered by the fact that his parents rejected him after his slaughtering of an entire race, “Shen” the peacock sets out to find “happiness” and he realizes that the only thing that would make him truly happy is not a family, but an iron-fisted rule of China-and Po with his new friends and skills sets out to stop him from doing such. When an animation company finds a movie that becomes a hit their first idea for a sequel is to stick to the formula-make a repeat of the last- but DreamWorks knew that would not bring the crowds in this time. Having Po the same clumsy, food-loving fool as in the last one would not work. So this time they kept his character and his “likeability” but added an air of confidence and ability letting him still be funny and lovable yet at the same time fierce and a master of what he does.

Another thing that made me like this movie even more was further development of the “Furious Five” who are behind Po 100% and believe he can do it, giving them more personality-and as Po puts it- “awesomeness” but none of them was more developed than Tigress-which tells me that there may be a bigger part for her along with a back-story in the third movie (hint-hint).

To sum it up- the best animated film this year so far (although Rio will still find its way into my DVD collection). With intense fighting, a sense of justice, and a further knowledge and love for the characters, this family movie is not just fun-it’s exciting! I hope to revisit the theater soon to have another taste of this dumpling-“Dragon Warrior sized!”

Its like I’ve been saying all along, it’s the STORY and the CHARACTERS that make the movie, not the visuals or the effects (although they were in there and were also breathtaking)-it takes a good story and characters to make you forget your in the theater and to make the Panda pop right off the screen. Though this may cause a problem if he starts eating your popcorn.

I always hate giving high ratings because it seems as though I am not critical enough, but to not give this movie one would be an injustice. Bravo DreamWorks.

Tomorrow, X-Men: First Class

Tomorrow it seems that the long anticipated movie "X-Men: First Class" is released, although I have never really been a fan of any Marvel Super Heroes I always enjoyed watching Wolverine and the X-men cartoon. But with this movie I am a little optimistic, I in no way doubt the pure awesomeness of the movie. It looks like one of the most fun and action-filled movies of the year, but I feel like it may contain content that would ruin its chances. It looks like many curse words might be thrown into the mix along with some unneeded sexual content. So I'm not too sure why I would watch a movie where the characters are heroes and saviors when their own lives need some saving! But besides that, the plot looks amazing, the effects look amazing and the concept is brilliant, so I definitely want to see it. All I'm saying is that although they may save the world from WWIII, I am worried that they may not be characters worth cheering for.

"Your costume doesn't need a lot of cleavage for you to save the world."

Do you has a like fur moovys?

Well, because of my busy lifestyle I have decided to offer the chance to post your own movie reviews, if it is cool, awesome, and just plain "reviewy" enough I will post it on my blog where all 5 followers can view it!

Email me your review at zay940@aol.com

Upcoming Movies

The Green Lantern, June 17: Green is the new good in the upcoming movie "Green Lantern". Although I am worried about the "rating" outcome of this movie because of the scene with the Green man waking up in bed with a girl he hardly even knows, I think that this movie might just show a true redemption story where the bed scene shows only how messed up and self-centered he was before and then how he risks his life for others after. With great CGI and story to boot! Something tells me that gone are the dark and depressing Marvel movies, that is, if they don't add a bucket full of swear words. Weigh In Guess: 75%

Mr. Popper's Penguins, June 17: Another movie full of animals and potential "doo-doo" puns. I have a strange feeling that this movie may just get a lot of viewers though......on the first day, then plummet the next. The only redeeming quality I see is the use of the many-faced Jim Carrey in this film, he may just be funny and spastic enough to get people to come and enjoy it, since after all, Mr. Popper will be in the state of loosing his mind because of the arrival of the flightless birds. The movie may do well, if the animals don't talk and......they aren't dogs. In conclusion I think that it will be a 50-50 movie, as long as they don't use every animal joke that is used in every kid's movie involving said animal and also, it looks like "Old Dogs" meets "Animal Planet". Weigh-In Guess: 52%

Cars 2, June 24: It seems as though that Pixar wishes to continue the stories of their loved, and beautifully developed characters and after Toy Story 3 it seems that Cars 2 is next on their agenda. I loved the first one, Cars it being my favorite Pixar film next to Ratatouille (Man, thats hard to spell) was wonderfully made with photo realistic characters that made you feel like you know them by the time the credits rolled. But this time, racing and friendship-building do not seem like the center plot, this time it's about........espionage?! Not only that, the center character seems to be the hillbilly car, Mater. This movie may sound a little different, but it seems like another Pixar hit, although I have a feeling that it will not be as original as the first it will redeem itself with even-better visuals, 3x the action, and a revisit with the unforgettable vehicles. Weigh In Guess: 89%

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Thor: The Score

Of all the scores I have heard (other than John Powell's) this one stuck out the most in the theater. Making you feel like you are in a world where honor matters, Patrick Doyle adds a sense of power and greatness to his music that adds to the movie in a way that no other does. Using many clangs and kettle drums to his orchestra makes you feel like Thor himself is conducting it with the vigor of a high being! The track "Sons of Oden" tells you on its own that this movie is taking place in a wondrous place and with powerful and honorable characters, Doyle did a wonderful job adding to a movie by turning music into a movie genre and turns a conductor's baton into a paintbrush.

Movie Review: Thor

Ah, Thor: the barbaric hero of Marvel manliness. Partnered with his hammer of the Gods and his Pigheadedness of righteousness he is a force to be reckoned with. And his movie’s delivered to my door with amazing effects and breathtaking CGI in under 30 minutes…..only one problem, they forgot the plot on this thing!

Although most critics bowed down to this god (along with most movie goers that gave it five stars because something exploded in it) I must say that, it leaves something to be desired.

It starts with our hero, I mean, Thor as a small child with thoughts of great battles and amazing slaughters of civilizations! You can guess what happens when he is given the strength and power to do so. His first act as “almost king” is to declare war on a frozen wasteland, which ends in a disastrous result and a insult to his father. Being a good king and father, Thor’s “dad” does the heavenly version of a “time out” and banishes his son to a planet called earth, where most of the movie takes place.

Thor is confronted with many obstacles, huge fight scenes where, because of the camera work, viewers have no clue what in Asgarth is going on, cars, giant metal heaters, family troubles, and smerfs on steroids. All of which, make up most of the movie. All of this takes breath in amazing worlds of computer art, which tries its best to distract from the fact that the characters are not developed past the fact that they have names.

Let me put it like this, Thor is banished, he goes to prison, he is told that is father is dead, he gets out of prison, glugs down “the mother of all beers” with a guy he hardly knows, Show’s up at the trailer of the girl he met the previous day, tells her of his world, then the next morning makes breakfast for her and her friends! Oh, and a few hours later realizes his error and gives everything so a town is not destroyed… Ah, obviously Thor is on some form medication.

But still, on a lighter note the movie is filled with amazing fights, acts of sacrifice, and the finding of good morals in the cluttered basement of secularism, not to mention the artsy camera shots (besides the fight scenes), and truly amazing scenery and CGI that would make James Cameron weep with tears of joy. Unlike the other Marvel movies this one ends with hope, and although the character development got lost in the shuffle, this movie offers a hero that would fight for your life, not his own.

THE FIRST WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE?

What is your favorite is a cool thing I thought of to try to get people more involved (and following) in my blog. What happens is that whenever a "WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE?" appears it will be followed by a genre eg. Kids and family, sci-fi, ect. and it is your job to post what your favorite movie in that genre is!
Good luck!!

In light of the fact that the last two posts have been about a kids movie, I thought.........I forgot.... But anywho, just tell me what your favorite movie in that genre is! And the most popular one will be posted!

Rio: The score

Yes, I realize that the "Rio" thing has been hit pretty hard around here, but that is because it is the most recent movie I've viewed! But I promise you that Monday will have another movie, then probably followed by it's score.







Rio: The score

John Powell has never let us down when it came time for a children's movie, and with this one being place (as the title suggests) in Rio, John does not hesitate to see what new instruments he can pull out and introduce the the score. With so many instruments I love to hear yet never heard of, with even the inclusion of bird calls, Powell wonderfully gets across the point that this.......is a bird movie (if the high number of wood-wind instruments didn't give that away.

With scores like "Morning Routine" that shows the fun in the movie and "Motorbike" which sounds very mechanical without leaving the "tropic sounds" behind. John gave us just what we wanted, a score that has the movie inside it.

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Movie Review: Rio

From the makers of the hit Ice Age series comes Rio, a comedy adventure about taking a walk on the wild side. Blu is a domesticated Macaw who never learned to fly, living a comfortable life with his owner and best friend Linda in the small town of Moose Lake, Minnesota. Blu and Linda think he's the last of his kind, but when they learn about another Macaw who lives in Rio de Janeiro, they head to the faraway and exotic land to find Jewel, Blu's female counterpart. Not long after they arrive, Blu and Jewel are kidnapped by a group of bungling animal smugglers. With the help of street smart Jewel, and a group of wise-cracking and smooth-talking city birds, Blu escapes. Now, with his new friends by his side, Blu will have to find the courage to learn to fly, thwart the kidnappers who are hot on their trail, and return to Linda, the best friend a bird ever had


Review:


Not award-worthy, but something I want on my DVD shelf for nights when I want to sit down with a tub of ice cream in the dark and feel like a kid again.

Although kid-targeted with its brightly colored scenery and, of course, talking animals. Along with an attempt trying to hone on the older generation with the voice talents of George Lopez, (who I think has voiced about every CG animal known to man) Anne Hathaway, and two hit singers I have truthfully, never heard of. This movie has something that will make you realize that you can still feel like a kid going to the theaters.

In the area of kid movies, I am one that does not budge, if lame jokes and songs are ingredients in the movie's batter....I would rather not taste it. So when my young brother insisted we go view "Rio" I felt like I was in-between a rock and hard place. Knowing the reason of "family time" I reluctantly joined them. Anyway, John Powell does the music, right?

The very first happening in the film was.....a musical number... The movie was speeding down on the incline I already had it set upon. But as the picture continued I was hit with something, colorful scenery....but I was also hit with a few somethings I did not see coming....A plot, and characters I started to get attached to. Which somehow found a way to knock down the barrier that was keeping me from enjoying the movie.

Though this movie was predicable just by the trailers (Blu would learn to fly, He and Jewel would get together in the end, and George Lopez would crack wise) The characters made the predicability fun! The plot was predicable, but the characters were not. This made the movie purely enjoyable! On top of this, I began rooting for something that I usually fight against in movies. The inevitable "marriage" of the two main characters. I am the one normally cringing at the "love" scenes in movies, but in this twist I was sent through, I found myself mentally cheering, hoping to see the two opposite birds "get together in the end". But again, predictability was one my side, so I knew they would.

Its time to get serious. What do you go to the movies for? Action, drama, explosions and those little chocolate chips with the white BBs on them. And all of above are...not in the movie. (I even checked with the concession stand and they never even heard of the snack) This film had nothing the average movie goer wants out of a movie (in other words, Michele Bay would leave the theater). But it does make you remember what you went to the movies for when you were five, and that is want makes this watchable.

In conclusion, I would like to say that, if you have kids, without a shadow of a doubt they will love the picture for its sheer kid-candy. But, if you are like me, you will find the cleverness of it and its undeniable effect on you, realizing that although your childhood has ended, like the film inevitably will, and is fading in the in the distant fog of your once-domant youth, you can still have fun like a child going to see a movie with his mother and father.

Cute, brilliantly animated, lovable, Rio is one for kids, and the kid in you.

P.S. If anyone can remember what was happening during the scenes with the drooling dog, tell me, I was too distracted.

Welcome!

Ah, take a deep breath! That new blog smell! Welcome to my new blog setup, I hope you like it, I'll be updating it every Saturday, Wednesday and Monday! Look for movie reviews, fun games and hints on great movies that you would normally pass up!