Archive for the 'Movie Reviews' Category
March 28th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
It is fitting that many of the struggles surrounding Noah, a big-budget studio epic that retells the story of Biblical hero Noah and his giant ark, is based around men with power. This story of course deals with how power has basically corrupted man and Noah is tasked with assisting in helping the world start anew and while I would not suggest that needs to happen again (I am not too fond of endless floods), the fact that one of the men with the power over this film is acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler) makes things very interesting. The curiosity of those on the outside will either be how “religious” this film ends up seeming or whether or not it has more up its sleeve than being a slick update of a production fit for Cecil B. DeMille. One thing is certain: Noah is both unlike anything Aronofsky has attempted before and exactly the kind of film he would make, based on this story.
Continue reading ‘Aronofsky Throws Everything Into His Ark For ‘Noah’ (Movie Review)’
March 28th, 2014 by Brian White
So Sabotage! Yeah! I’m at a loss for words, truly. I really wanted nothing to do with this one, but since it was a pretty lifeless week for press screeners in the Austin, TX area and there’s not a single one slated for Noah I thought why not? I have been pleasantly surprised before and the more I read about Sabotage the more I felt that maybe, just maybe, I could get onboard with it. After all, Escape Plan and The Last Stand weren’t completely awful films. As long as this is better than The Expendables I know I can get on board. So why not, indeed! Let’s roll with the punches and trade a few bullets in this review because this one has a pretty simple one-sentence synopsis: Members of an elite DEA task force find themselves being taken down one-by-one after they bust into a drug cartel safe house. Sound familiar? Hell yeah it does! But this one has Arnold with tattoos! So it has to be a must-see movie, right? Read on, buck-o! Continue reading ‘I’m Tellin’ y’all it’s ‘Sabotage’ (Movie Review)’
March 25th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
When The Raid: Redemption hit theaters in America back in 2011, I was ecstatic over what it gave me. Having looked forward to it for months, I felt like I was rewarded with a film that was one of the more visceral experiences I have ever had in a theater, complete with a great audience to experience it with. It presented a ton of action, which included various fights, choreography, and filmmaking that I frankly had not seen presented in that manner before. The story is not all that innovative, but it was immensely satisfying for me as far as what it was trying to do. It was enough to earn a spot on my top 10 list that year. Now we have the Raid 2: Berandal, which attempts to extend that visceral experience into something much grander, given the blown out nature of the plot, expansion of characters, and general chaotic feel of the action on display. The result was another bloody good time at the theater.
Continue reading ‘‘The Raid 2’ Puts Rama Back In Crazy Action (Movie Review)’
March 21st, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
I love Muppets. 2011 gave me a big bowl of smiles in the form of The Muppets; seemingly a return of the classic characters to the big screen in the form of what could have been an emotional farewell to them. It happened to also be a hysterical (and Oscar-winning) comedy suitable for everyone, but it definitely wanted to deliver on sentiment as well. Muppets Most Wanted is more “business as usual” as far as Muppets movies go, as it does much less work from an emotional standpoint, with focus placed well into the madcap adventure category this go around. As a result, the film feels less significant (which it is happy to point out from the outset), but it is still a chance to have a whole lot of fun with the Muppets, which I have no problem doing.
Continue reading ‘The Taking of ‘Muppets’ 123 (Movie Review)’
March 21st, 2014 by Brian White
I really did not know what to expect with this one having not seen anything Muppets on television or in the movies since my childhood. I’m not entirely sure why I went that long with a Muppet-like drought, but nevertheless I did. However, much to my surprise, Muppets Most Wanted was like a family reunion for me. You know how you can let years past and not see extended family, but just pick things right up like nothing ever happened upon reunion? Well, it’s simply like that. It felt good! As Muppets Most Wanted unfolded on the screen, I remembered all those characters like a book unravelling one is reading for the second time. Talk about a blast from the past! You can add wrinkles to my face, pepper my hair gray and pile me under tons of non-fun adult debt, but you can’t take away that geeky kid in me no matter how hard you try (the PlayStation 4 is evidence of that). And best of all, Muppets Most Wanted, like the television show of my childhood, scores lots and lots of superstar cameos. I like that! So come on! Let’s cut Animal loose from his chains and get this party started! Continue reading ‘‘Muppets Most Wanted’ Proves A Worthy “Sequel” (Movie Review)’
March 20th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
Divergent is the first sci-fi/action/coming-of-age film adapted from a young adult novel to be released this year. For those keeping track, we still have The Giver, The Maze Runner, and The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay – Part 1 to look forward to in 2014. I say this because these types of films have formed their own sub-genre at this point, akin to the big-budget superhero films of recent years. Not all of these book-to-film adaptations have been super successful in the way Marvel and DC superhero films have (but you should check out Beautiful Creatures, because it is solid), but some of these tend to still feel like the next big thing. I am not sure what future lies ahead of Divergent and the other potential films adapted from Veronica Roth’s book series, but this first film seems to at least be satisfying for fans of the book who will see it no matter what and could be enjoyable for those who are not tired of this sub-genre or are diving into it for the first time.
Continue reading ‘Divergent And The Prisoner Of Dauntless (Movie Review)’
March 18th, 2014 by Laney Feeser
Wes Anderson is a creature of habit. He has developed a uniqueness that has such a look, feel and sound to his films that they have become a genre themselves. You know you’ve really made it when Saturday Night Live makes a mockery of you and most recently, SNL took Wes Anderson on and produced a skit that summed up every Wes Anderson cliché to perfection. The Grand Budapest Hotel is no exception and follows suit as it uses the same bright color schemes, camera shots, and cast. Continue reading ‘Visit Wes Anderson’s ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’’
March 14th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
I guess if I had to consider my attachment to the original Veronica Mars series and how it came into play with the viewing of this film, I would say I was in a fairly decent position to review the film, without caving into the pressures of being a fan and alienating those unfamiliar with the show. Sure, I am a fan of the TV series, which I caught on Netflix, years after it was off the air. That said, I have not revisited the series since. This does not mean I did not have affection for the show, as I think Veronica Mars was a great series at its best, with fine performances from a large portion of its cast, which had a number of interesting characters and relationships, on top of a format that could balance comedy, drama, and mystery all in one. Having a new movie to experience, my best hope was that it could continue in that tradition, without feeling like it was pandering exclusively to those who loved it all those years ago. I never really thought it could stay away from that completely, but fortunately the film has enough sharp writing, aided by some nice lead performances, to make it worthwhile.
Continue reading ‘The ‘Veronica Mars’ Some People Used To Know Is Back (Movie Review)’
March 14th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
Need for Speed is a lot like a shady used car salesman. The film presents the viewer with the shininess of something new; in this case a video game movie that relies on a heavy use of practical effects to show off fancy cars driving fast. However, beneath this kinetic frosting are a lot of old and out of date parts that make for a bumpy ride overall. Sure, it may not have cost a whole lot and the short-lived thrills may allow one to look past the shortcomings, but wouldn’t it be nicer to go home with a better vehicle for Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul to star in? Regardless of the type of film it is, there are racing-action movies that certainly fill the void with more substance that goes along with the obvious style.
Continue reading ‘How Much Need Was There For ‘Need For Speed’? (Movie Review)’
March 14th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
Bad Words has a good logline: A middle-aged man competes in a national spelling bee. It helps that the film is quite funny. The humor is certainly of the pitch-black variety, with a good dose of raunchiness thrown in as well, but having the spirit of an indie at least lends Bad Words some distinct credibility. It is not as sitcom-y as something like Bad Teacher, but it does not reach the anti-commercial chaos that was the hilarious Bad Santa either. Still, Jason Bateman does a fine job in front of and behind the camera, in an effort to make this dirty little film enjoyable; even if he does spell out the themes a bit too plainly.
Continue reading ‘Bateman’s ‘Bad Words’ Is Funny (Movie Review)’
March 14th, 2014 by Brian White
Alright, let’s set the record straight. I like Aaron Paul. I like his work in Breaking Bad and the remake of The Last House on the Left, but I have my reservations going into Need For Speed last Thursday evening. For starters, it’s based off of a video game. Now let’s all be honest with ourselves here. How many great films are there out there that are based off of a video game? The only ones that I can think of that are remotely successful are the Resident Evil films, but to call them good would be a huge stretch. But hey…I understand. You got to capitalize while the property is hot and while I’m not a huge fan of the Electronic Arts need For Speed series, there’s no denying their presence and domination over the competition throughout the lifespan of the last three generations of major gaming consoles. So what the hell. I’m a sucker for car flicks. And when I found out that the new 2015 Ford Mustang would be making an appearance in here I said where do I sign up? Continue reading ‘Jesse’s Braking Just Fine In ‘Need For Speed’ (Movie Review)’
March 14th, 2014 by Laney Feeser
Bad Words will not be an Oscar contender. The casting was a bit predictable and the storyline was borderline cheesy. This sounds like the build up to a horribly disappointing movie, but there is one aspect that is done to such perfection that it makes this movie just brilliant. Even at Jason Bateman’s worse, he never disappoints with his sharp wit and sarcastic repartee, but in Bad Words he takes this one step further. Bateman delivers brutally vicious insults with utterly offensive conversation to dark humor perfection. And this movie doesn’t pretend to be anything more than that. The plot is simple and simpler yet are the subplots without a trace of pretension coming anywhere near the film. Personally, I feel that what the film lacked was partly intentional as to allow the limelight to shine that much brighter on the content that mattered most—disgustingly darker than black humor. Continue reading ‘‘Bad Words’ Spells S.U.C.C.E.S.S. for Jason Bateman Both in Front and Behind the Scenes (Movie Review)’
March 7th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
300 is not a film many would have watched in its original release and thought it could use a sequel. Back in March of 2007, director Zack Snyder impressed audiences with his stylized cinematic vision of Frank Miller’s graphic novel, which was a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. 300 was fairly straightforward, but its visual aesthetic paved the way for other films and television series like it. Having been a large fan of 300, the idea of a sequel, especially one that took its time in getting to theaters, was not exactly a film piquing my interest. Despite the elements of history that could be creatively portrayed within this same graphic novel universe, I was not sure what a studio was willing to do with a follow up inspired by profits form the first. To my surprise, 300: Rise of an Empire manages to deliver the familiar spectacle, while adding a more complicated story and an excitingly ferocious villain as well.
Continue reading ‘7 Years Later, Witness ‘300’ Rise Again (Movie Review)’
March 7th, 2014 by Brian White
Thinking about this today, it’s been way too long hasn’t it? I’m talking about of course the amount of time that has passed since 2007 when Warner Bros. brought Roman soldiers with unbelievably chiseled pecs and abs into our living rooms on our early adoption HDTV sets during the Red vs. Blu Wars (HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray). Can you believe it has been that long and for that matter has taken this long to get a sequel out to the wildly insane, testosterone driven 300? I still remember my first theatrical viewing of that feature. It was quite a visual spectacle to behold and take in. It was like the raw pages of Frank Miller’s graphic novel of the same name just magically came to life on the big screen. Were those chiseled bodies real or CG? Hell no! Gerald Butler and the rest of the gang went through some rigorous training to achieve those astonishing physiques. Now it wasn’t all about the awe, shock and gratuitous violence/sex, it was actually a quite entertaining and solid movie that took us on an incredible journey and did not let go of us leaving us thirsty for even more blood and vengeance by the time the credits rolled. After all, our king, as mighty as he was, had fallen. Vengeance was an instant mandate. And now the time is upon us! Ladies and gentlemen…I proudly introduce to you 300: Rise of an Empire. Continue reading ‘300: Rise of an Empire – ‘300’ SUPER-SIZED! (Movie Review)’
March 6th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
The Grand Budapest Hotel is a film not only packed with characters, sets, costumes, and all the things that tend to typify writer/director Wes Anderson’s style, it is also packed with story. It is becoming more and more clear to me how much Anderson enjoys having films that are about stories being told to an audience. There are frequent themes that have been present in Anderson’s other films, namely family, which is clearly seen in The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic, Fantastic Mr. Fox and all of his other films as well, which is all well and good, but The Grand Budapest Hotel really goes out of its way to show us that it is a story within a story that is being told to another person. The result is a film that finds a way to present something that will be entirely familiar to everyone who recognizes Anderson’s style, but ends up feeling like a comment on storytelling itself. The film combines multiple genres in a rather go-for-broke fashion, while still finding the time to be thoughtful in regards to its key characters, and does not let narrative constraint get in the way.
Continue reading ‘Wes Anderson’s Style Adorns ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ (Movie Review)’
March 5th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
While I was never a big fan of The Smurfs, among other older cartoons that have since been turned into animated features, Peabody’s Improbable History, which was a part of The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show, was a series of skits that I always found entertaining. I haven’t watched Peabody in years, but seeing this new 3D CG version of the concept brought memories flooding back into my mind, once the animated, bow-tied beagle started delivering puns so cringe-worthy they would then become kind of hysterical. It is not often that I consciously take nostalgia into account, but Mr. Peabody & Sherman won me over by not only providing a fast-paced, time traveling adventure comedy with humor for all ages, but also jogging my memory with thoughts of an old cartoon that I enjoyed a bit more than expected.
Continue reading ‘A Duo From Way Back, ‘Mr. Peabody & Sherman’ Has Been Reimagined (Movie Review)’
February 26th, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
It is fun to see how much credibility an actor with gravitas can bring to a really silly film. Liam Neeson has returned to the action/thriller realm once again to star in an airplane-hijacking film, with twists and turns that go way too far in terms of being plausible. It matters little though, as the film has way too much fun with embracing its ludicrous nature, which manages not to be too much of a fault, as Non-Stop finds a way to keep you guessing, while Neeson once again adds his serious presence to a film that may have once seemed beneath him. It is not a film that is trying to say anything; it just wants to entertain, with the semblance of some clever ideas, in the midst of its high-octane silliness.
Continue reading ‘What About ‘Non-Stop’ Though? (Movie Review)’
February 21st, 2014 by Aaron Neuwirth
Sometimes it is fine just taking what you can get. A serviceable film is not necessarily a bad one if you had an overall good time. I would be curious to revisit my thoughts on Pompeii a week from now or even a couple days from now and figure out what I would do differently in this review, but as of now, I am fine giving a mild recommendation to this disaster epic that aspires to be Gladiator and Titanic combined into a shorter and more streamlined film. It may lack the ability to be emotionally affecting and there are many elements that are way over-the-top, but at the same time, I knew what I was getting into and was fine with eventually giving in. Pompeii is not great art, but I cannot say it does not deliver on its goal. It is just a matter of how far you are willing to go to enjoy a campy B-movie set in the Roman Empire.
Continue reading ‘Large-Scale Camp Erupts From ‘Pompeii’ (Movie Review)’
It is fitting that many of the struggles surrounding Noah, a big-budget studio epic that retells the story of Biblical hero Noah and his giant ark, is based around men with power. This story of course deals with how power has basically corrupted man and Noah is tasked with assisting in helping the world start anew and while I would not suggest that needs to happen again (I am not too fond of endless floods), the fact that one of the men with the power over this film is acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler) makes things very interesting. The curiosity of those on the outside will either be how “religious” this film ends up seeming or whether or not it has more up its sleeve than being a slick update of a production fit for Cecil B. DeMille. One thing is certain: Noah is both unlike anything Aronofsky has attempted before and exactly the kind of film he would make, based on this story.
