Into The Woods (2014)

I wish...I could say I loved the movie.  Recent musical adaptations from the stage to screen have left me disappointed.  Big disappointments include Phantom of the Opera (I have never enjoyed Joel Schumacher's work anyway), Les Miserables mostly due to the casting of Javert, and the current abomination of Annie (2014).  The movie musical isn't dead though, Chicago and Dreamgirls were quite satisfying adaptations and perhaps because they lent themselves better to film from the stage than other works.

Into the Woods first premiered on Broadway in 1987 and was later filmed for television and subsequently released on home video/DVD. I have watched that production many times over the years as well as several live stage versions over the last 20 years.  The plot was created for the theater. The songs were placed in such a way that build toward the end of a first act and then the shift for the second act. Much like the Phantom movie musical, the transition through the eliminated intermission feels feels awkward and rushed.  It also creates the need to alter or eliminate songs from the score.  Into the Woods was without several songs from the original score, this did not however, take away from the plot and would be missed by a movie audience.

The story revolves around some familiar fairy tale characters; Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the beanstalk, Rapunzel and Cinderella along with some new characters including a Baker and his wife.  Their stories intertwine in a newly created storyline of the Baker and his wife trying to remove a curse so that they can have a baby.  The story is creative and all seems to be wrapped up into a happy ending. This is traditionally where act one ends.  Act two then follows with what happens after and then the story takes a steep dark turn. In the history of the stage show, many audience members have left after the first act, believing that it was the end of the show. The same went for the movie, where I heard some folk after the show saying that they felt the movie was too long and could have ended after the happy ending midway through the film. I had to to laugh, because that is just part of the Into the Woods experience.

Stand out performances came from Emily Blunt as the Baker's wife. She has a pleasant singing voice and was nice to look at.  I was less enthralled with Meryl Streep as the Witch. I just felt she was phoning in her performance in a paint-by-numbers portrayal of the role.  Frankly, she is also too old for the character.  The movie looked great from a cinematography standpoint but fell short of looking spectacular. I did take into account that much of the film takes place in the woods, a dark and dreary place and symbolic for the world in which we all live.  Into the Woods does not have a happy ending ultimately and you will not walk away feeling great about things.

Moon (2009)

Moon staring Sam Rockwell, was a darkly fascinating film. Sam's character Sam, is working on a moon base sending energy from the moons surface back to earth, very Dune like with harvesters and a cool A.I. buddy very like HAL 9000 from 2001. This film is a little like Fight Club mixed with a little Cast Away. It's a bit of a psychological drama, with a look at how those corporate bastards are just out to screw people over.

I really enjoyed this film, Sam does a wonderful job of playing multiple roles, Kevin Spacey as the voice of the computer GERTY does a great job voice acting.... or what ever you want to call it. This film is available on Netflix for instant viewing, Totally worth the time spent!

MW

Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008)

Holy crap it's Crap! So I watched this film on Netflix from my Wii, and I am surprised my Wii did not need a good wipe down after this crap came out of it. Lets take a classic great vampire movie and ruin it with surfing vampires and too much sex for it's own good. Ok, so Corey Feldman needed some cash, and what do we get?

Weak story, weak plot and I just got bored! Sorry thats my complaint. It just was not interesting. From Frog brothers comics to Frog brothers board shapers... LAME!!! Sorry this is a short review, only cause much can not be said.

Avatar (2010)

The much anticipated 3D film came out screaming! I had high hopes for this film and it did not disappoint. If we were to take Fern Gully and Dances with Wolves and mash them together in 3D, Avatar is what would come out.

Ok it has a relatively simple and familiar story, What I'd call Americans, have come to an alien planet in the quest for unobtanium, a resource native to the planet and a large deposit of it just so happens to be under the alien species home tree. There, as we know from history, the outsiders try to take what is not theirs not caring who they displace or kill on the way to get it.

We follow a marine who learns to love the people he is sent to infiltrate. Enough said.

This film is worth seeing, in 3D any of the flavors of 3D just don't wast your time seeing it in 2D. A film this beautiful must be seen, so go see it, I know it's getting pricey it cost nearly $30 just for my wife and I to see it, that was just ticket cost...

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Quentin Tarantino is one of the only directors in our times that creates for audiences a true cinematic experience. He does it again with his latest opus, Inglourious Basterds. The film is sort of a remake of an obscure Italian B-movie from the 70s, but other than the name, time and location of the film, it's pretty much a completely different movie. Like many Tarantino projects, this follows multiple storylines than eventually intersect.

The Inglourious Basterds are a commando group of Jewish Americans dropped into France during the Nazi occupation of WWII. Brad Pitt is the head of the group. All the characters are strong and unpredictable. They scalp a lot of Nazi's. There is so much more to the plot, but that's all I care to share at this point.

The movie is beautifully shot by cinematographer Robert Richardson, who is popular with Scorsese and Oliver Stone. The pop soundtrack was limited in this Tarantino release, but present and appropriate. Also missing was the strong language usually found in his films. The language issue is this film is that there is dialogue in English, French and German. There are a lot of subtitles to be read.

Tarantino takes time in the film to also show off his knowledge of both French and German cinema knowledge of the 40s. There are references to films and actors from that time in both countries. It's not often to get a modern film referencing UFA (the principal studio during that period in Germany). There is also a salute to the old nitrate film stock.

The R rating comes mostly for the graphic violence, i.e. realistic scalping! (153 minutes)

District 9 (2009)

District 9 does what hasn't been done in a long time. On a relatively meager budget, it manages to pull off a convincing sci-fi/action/morality tale. The film takes place in the present. A large spacecraft has stalled above Johannesburg, South Africa. Aboard were a bunch of sickly aliens who look similar to humanoid craw fish. They are kept in a secured concentration camp-like area called District 9. The area has become a slum and the government decides to evict them all...action ensues in the process.

There is the obvious correlation of this story to South African apartheid, but also a bigger statement on how we treat each other and other living things. Everyone becomes expendable.

The film is presented somewhat in a reality show ala Cops fashion but then morphs into a regular narrative driven film. The movie is cast with unknowns which helps bring you into the story without being distracted by a celebrity face. The CGI aliens are very realistic and also are not a distraction. The pacing is just right as you move through the story in almost real time.

I walked out of this thinking, "this is a great movie!" I think most people would feel the same way. The film is Rated R for the violence and language...think Humans and Aliens...blowing up, literally. (112 minutes)

Land of the Lost (2009)

"Marshall, Will and Holly
On a routine expedition
Met the greatest earthquake ever known
High on the rapids It struck their tiny raft (insert screams here)
And plunged them down a thousand feet below
To the Land of the Lost
To the Land of the Lost
To the Land of the Lost"
Sid and Marty Krofft have done it again, well kinda. I went into this film not expecting much, I was a fan of the TV series with all its cheap blue screen tricks and recycled stop motion animation. Directed by Brad Silberling and starting Will Ferrell, Danny McBride and Anna Friel. It was everything I expected from a Will Ferrel movie and more. The countless call backs to the old TV series, the silly banjo music. It was quite a fun ride, if you are in the mood for a fun movie, this is it. The sequence when they all got loaded in the desert was pretty darn funny. Basically check it out.

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Terminator 4, or the first in a new trilogy, talk about action film! Thats what it was, so don't go in expecting something with a deep brilliant story. We meet Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) on death row, signing over his body to science like 10 years before skynet takes over. Then Bam, Christian Bale is almost nuked at a facility where the resurrected Marcus Wright comes crawling from the tomb, and so the story begins.
Pretty much non-stop action, explosions and lots of CG. Some looked cheesy some was pretty rock solid. The CG Arnold was pretty weak, like our Governor.... There were lots of call-backs to the old films, Molten Metal, Freezing, semi-truck chases and kicking out windows.
Anyway, it was a very good setup for the next 2 films, we'll see how they pan out. This has the potential to bleed into the matrix franchise. So if you are in the mood for Action and not much thinking, this one's for you!

~Matt

Star Trek (2009)

J.J. Abrams, a brilliant creator and story teller has done it again, from some long running awesome TV shows to some stunning feature films. Star Trek was everything it was cracked up to be. From beautiful visuals to a well crafted story. Have no fear all you Star Trek Geeks, it all ties in to the Star Trek Galaxy. The well picked cast was excellent and we hope they stick around for the next batch of films.
Really this film is a must see, for ANYONE. If you know nothing about Trek you will still have a great ride. If you want space battles, hand to hand combat, a story, it's all here. J.J. really pulled this one off.
I wont give any spoilers but what it comes down to is, just go see it.

-Matt

The Watchmen (2009)

@
Imagine a 1980s where Nixon is still president, we won in Vietnam and we are closer than ever to nuclear annihilation. That's really the only interesting aspect of this graphic novel to film adaptation. There is not much of a movie here, so much as some stylized sets and costumes with a violently graphic fight sequence every 15-20 minutes.

The hype has been so big on this film, I figured that I needed to see it opening day. Apparently, it was a film that even one it's creators, Alan Moore didn't think could be made. Moore, I think was ignored of his admonishment. The original comics were written in the late 80s but I can see that there is a place for this material in our current time. What I also believe is that we have had enough reminders that America is its own worst enemy, but here we once again have a film guilting us up again.

The Watchmen are a second generation of vigilante heroes with great strength but not really any superpowers. That is except for Dr. Manhattan, who is a post-human with all sorts of powers, akin to one of the X-Men. The heroes had retired but then find themselves needed again after one of their own is killed. That is where the story could have gotten good, but instead, over two hours of the two hours and forty minutes of movie is filled with expository story. Some good performances were had by Patrick Wilson and Malin Akerman. I'd have to say Billy Crudup was also a standout, but we mostly had just his voice since his character was a computer composited humanoid. Jackie Earle Haley gives another fine performace following his turn in Little Children. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, who also made "300." Lucky for us he cut down on his use of chroma key, which allowed for a much more realistic, albeit heightened, setting.

The Watchmen comic enthusiasts will likely love the movie. Those of us that have not will mostly be left empty. I can understand that once again we have a movie turning the superhero concept on it's head, but give me something more than a reminder that mankind is greedy, destructive and has brought doom and gloom upon ourselves. The film is bleak and hardly escapist fair. (Rated R, 161 minutes)

"W" (2008)

Oliver Stone's latest film takes a sympathetic look at our current president. We watch as George W. Bush makes his way from the college years floundering around different jobs until he decided to run for governor of Texas and then the President of the United States. There are no plot spoilers to give away because all of us have experienced the majority of this film, which is highlights (and lowlights) of the last 8 years.

The sub-story of this film is of a first-born son whose father never expected much from him and found constant disappointment with junior's endeavors. We also watch an alcoholic turned born again, find Jesus Christ. This religious faith then begins to guide all the decisions made in this man's life and likely gave him the strength he needed to make the leap from a governor to president.

While the movie starts out feeling like another SNL skit, you do begin to buy into whose these people really are. There are very convincing performances by Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell and Richard Dreyfus as Dick Chaney. Scott Glenn gave me chills as Rumsfeld and Thandie Newton made me giggle every time she opened her mouth as Condeleeza Rice.

This is a film by Oliver Stone, so you can't help but notice that it is not a candy-coated pro-Bush film, but it is not about bashing or destroying the man. It is a very honest depiction of the current "leader of the free world." More impressive is Stone making a PG-13 rated film. There is very little language and no nudity. (131 minutes)

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Here is a funny movie. A really funny movie that is almost too clever for it's own good. Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder tells the story of a cast of a Vietnam movie who get thrust into reality and don't really know it, at first. While it is another movie about a movie, it still refreshingly portrayed.

The cast made up of Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and terrific supporting cast keep the film moving a clip pace. There are some terrific surprise performances that also pop up in the film, but I'll leave something for you to discover when you watch the movie.

The film has some bad language and comedic gore (what do expect in a film about the Vietnam War being made in present times?) There is no sex or nudity, which is suprising. Most of all there is Ben Stiller who wrote, directed, produced and stars in the film. Stiller plays the "Ben Stiller Character that he plays in virtually every film (except Zoolander) but that certainly is not a bad thing.

The film is so good that I have seen it twice. It is not often that I will pay twice to see a film while on it's theatrical release. It go stomped in the box office when it opened on against the Olympics, but it seems to be regaining it's ground. So grab yourself a can of Booty Sweat Energy Drink and enjoy the film.

(Rated R, 107 Minutes)

Pineapple Express (2008)

While I will shamefully admit that I found Superbad to be pretty darn funny, the same cannot be said for Pineapple Express. The movie takes us along with Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) who buys some "premium marijuana" then witnesses a murder and then gets followed by those involved in the murder. Dale's dealer (James Franco) also gets sucked in for the ride. The funniest character in the film is played by Danny McBride, who is also hilarious in Tropic Thunder. McBride is a drug dealing middleman with a lot of bad luck on his side.

Even if you enjoy movies about getting high on marijuana, you might find it hard to enjoy this film. Heck, even if you are high at the time of watching the movie, I can't say that you'd like it much.

This is another film out of producer Judd Apatow's group of regulars. It was co-written by Seth Rogen way back before he was in 40 Year Old Virgin and only got green-lit after his success in that film and Knocked Up. This is one script that should have just been passed over.

(Rated R, 111 Minutes)

The Dark Knight (2008)

Wow! What? You have not seen it yet? What a treat! If you liked Batman Begins, then this sequel is gonna blow your freakin mind! Christian Bale did an outstanding job as he did in the last one, even though his batman voice is a bit obnoxious and hard to understand. But this film was carried by the presence of Heath Ledger as the Joker. Some may think the movie had a lot of graphic violence, but really they did a great job of leaving it up to your imagination. The severely dark overtones of this film make it quite the theatrical ride. As for the gore, when Two Face makes his appearance, he is pretty gnarly. The last superhero film hat had more than 2 bad guys in it was Spiderman 3, in which that film made me lose hope in any future spiderman films. It killed the franchise. But in this film we see Scare Crow, Joker and Two Face. They balanced the use and time of these villains so well! It was brilliant.
I really don't want to give too much away. The film was two and a half hours, and it was what a movie experience should be like! Go see it, you won't be disappointed!

Matt Worley

Hancock (2008)

Bouncing right back from I am Legend, Will Smith as Hancock leads this film off with a pretty big bang. I came into this film much like the Hulk, not expecting much. But I was pretty impressed with the story and concept. I saw the twist coming a mile away but I still enjoyed it. I though the on screen chemistry between all the leads was great. Will Smith flying around and being the deadbeat super hero was pretty entertaining. The use of language was a bit excessive, some family brought there little kids and we could hear them repeating what they heard on screen. Really parents, know what you are taking your kids to before you go. And for all you lazy slobs that treat the movie theater like your living room, putting your feet up on the seats and just making a mess, really, have some respect for the theater and those around you. Oh, more ranting, sorry. For those of you with bluetooth headsets, take them off and turn them off with you cell during a film, No one wants to be distracted by the flashing light on your communicator, and you no longer look important since it is California state law to use them.
Anyway, I found it enjoyable.

Matt Worley

The Happening (2008)

Should I say it? Come on. Really? Has M. Night Shyamalan done it again? I'd say he has. Walking in with little to no expectations, well I had a few. The master of twists kept on twisting.
CREEPY, if you are freaked out by suicide and creepy old ladies. Beware! There is some intense visual elements in this film. hence the "R" rating. For his first "R" rated film he certainly went out with a bang! This film had me thinking for days about the "would if" factor of this highly improbable but slightly possible incident.
Markie Mark Wahlberg did a swell job, but he never strays far from the same kind of character. Zooey Deschanel was excellent, her and Mark played off each other very nicely and added some balance to the film. John Leguizamo's part was short lived. No pun intended, but really he did a great job.
So the plot, something is making people give up the will to live, the survival instinct. So by getting rid of this instinct people just start killing themselves. From shooting, to jumping off buildings to hanging or laying down in front of a riding lawn mower. CREEPY STUFF!!! So if you have enjoyed his films in the past you just might enjoy this one, and if you are not creeped out easily.
Shyamalan has his cameo at the beginning, you wont see his face but you hear his voice. See if you can catch it.

Matt Worley

The Incredable Hulk (2008)

Let me preface this by saying I have seen the film twice now. The first time was late one night while my wife was out of town. I headed down to the local theater and payed my money to the man. Going in with expectations high, due to the total failure of the last Hulk film and the total success of Iron Man. Needless to say I was very happy. The opening title sequence sets up the back story very well. They also touch on it through out the movie. If you were a fan AT ALL of the old TV series you will notice all kinds of references to people and things from that series. Lou Ferrigno has a cameo and of course Stan Lee.
From the beginning it was exciting, Edward Norton was a brilliant Bruce Banner, Yet again another wonderful performance. Liv Tyler was ok, all she has going for her is the pouty lip thing thanks to her father.
But back to the film. It was a ride I had to take twice, the villain was pretty wicked, his name is Abomination. Really there was nice character development and the tease at the end was something you need to see. So go check it out!

Matt Worley

WALL*E (2008)

It is not often that I get out on the opening day for a movie. Frankly, there just isn't that much time in my life. Last night was a unique experience as I was able to attend the 9:25 showing of WALL*E, the newest Pixar/Disney film.

The film was conceived off the idea, "What if mankind evacuated Earth and forgot to turn off the last remaining robot?" That's where WALL*E comes into play, his name is an acronym for Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth class. The movie follows his experiences after he receives a visit from EVE, a Earth Vegetation Evaluator and returns with her to where she comes from. That is about all I want to divulge on plot details. The story is light, funny, a bit romantic and a bit melancholy.

Visually, this is the most spectacular creation from Pixar to date. I attended a showing that featured digital projection which just complimented how stunning this film is to watch. There is very little dialogue, but believe me, you will not miss it. The film is definitely kid-friendly, but far from a kiddie film. The audience to best receive this film is over 25.

Pixar films have several ongoing themes running throughout them: nostalgia, consumerism, consumption and the need for conservation. All those themes come through strongly is the movie. (97 minutes, Rated G)

Mike Worley

WALL*E Widget

Iron Man (2008)

Finally a superhero movie that does not SUCK! Ok well a few of the X-Men movies were ok, I didn't waste my time on the last Superman or Hulk movies (the new HULK is gonna ROCK!). But Batman Begins was pretty rad. and the first few Batman movies were good too, thanks to Tim Burton. But anyway I digress as I always do.
Talk about a beautiful marriage of character, story and FX. This film went full circle, showing how a cocky business man and weapons genius sees how destructive his life has been, in more then one way and designs the ultimate weapon to destroy all that he himself has created. When Stark played by Robert Downey Jr. learns that the weapons he had been designing to protect American soldiers have been sold to their enemy's and are now used to kill American solders, he takes matters into his own hands. We see stark go through all the stages of becoming the Iron Man. It is pretty rad. This film deals with current issues and is very relevant to todays issues. The FX are brilliant, and if this film is at all a view of the near future, it's gonna rock. Also if you stick around after the credits, you get a little taste of Iron Man 2.
Matt Worley