REVIEW: The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie

Year: 2007
Director: David Silverman
Starring: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
MPAA: Rated PG-13

When word got out that Fox was finally bringing The Simpsons to the big screen, it got me excited, but also alittle worried. I mean it took 18 years for Fox to finally wake up and realize that after winning multiple awards and being nominated over a billion times that The Simpsons deserve the big screen treatment. So I was worried about alot of things like was it going to be in 3D? was it going to have a good story? will the entire cast return? and if the actual film would even come out. Thankfully, all of this was answered in the film and I'm glad to say that it delivered. Grossing over $520 million worldwide on a budget of $75 million, The Simpsons Movie was easily a box office success.

Plot Outline:
While Green Day performs in Lake Springfield, they begin to talk about the environment, but receive a negative response from the people of Springfield. Garbage is thrown at the band causing them to sink to their death. After this incident, Lisa (Yeardley Smith) tries to warn other Springfield residents about pollution and nobody listens until she meets an Irish boy named Colin (Tress MacNeille). Together, the two manage to convince the town that the lake should be cleaned up. Meanwhile, Homer (Dan Castellaneta) adopts a pig and decides to depose the pig's waste in the lake, causing pollution. After President Arnold Schwarzenegger is informed about this by Russ Cargill (Albert Brooks) who is the head of the EPA, a giant dome is placed over Springfield. Homer finds himself in a lot of trouble when the town learns that he is responsible for the lake's pollution.

Plot:
The story of the movie feels exactly like an episode of the show only stretched out to fit the 1 hour and 27 minutes of the film which kind of feels short. While the story is much better than the recent episodes that have been airing on TV, it doesn't come close to some of the earlier episodes of the show. To me it feels more like a regular 30 minute episode, but stretched out instead of an actual story built from scrap. The Simpsons have always been about jokes and its targeted at people looking for comedy. That same formula is present here and we get many jokes that are plain hilarious. At the same time, it makes you wonder "Didn't I hear this joke already"? The many jokes the film has have been used in various seasons of the show and are recycled in the movie. While this does make the film alittle more dull for huge fans around the world, it does make the newer audiences happy since the jokes are pretty funny. So I guess its kind of like a trade off.

Cast:
The cast of The Simpsons Movie is outstanding. I'm very happy to see that the entire cast is back for the long awaited movie. Dan Castellaneta does his Homer thing and I'm so glad he does it great because literally no one can play Homer Simpson better than Dan Castellaneta. Julie Kavner is also back as Marge Simpson and sounds good, but for some scenes, her voice does sound alittle deep, but maybe that's just me. Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith return as Bart and Lisa Simpson with both sounding great with longer lines than they usually get in the TV show. Its also nice to see Albert Brooks return and sounding great as usual. I thought the cast was overall very solid and they well projected their voices.

Picture:
The visual effects for the film are fantastic. Considering The Simpsons have always been about 2D sketch animation, its nice to see the film still keep that look of the TV show instead of going 3D. The movie is shown in widescreen and looks better than it did on TV. The pixels are in higher resolution with everything else looking crystal clear and razor sharp. There is absolutely no film grain and everything is silky smooth. Colors are eye popping with vibrancy. The color yellow has never looked this good. Detail is also impressive with every little thing looking wonderfully detailed. This is one good looking disc from the guys at Fox.

Sound:
While the music of the film sounds good, its kind of sad to see that mastermind composer Danny Elfman not return to score this film. It really would have made this film so much better, but what we do get is from composer Hans Zimmer who composed many other hits such as Batman Begins, The Da Vinci Code and etc. While Elfman would have been great, what we get from Hans Zimmer isn't all that bad. The movie has sound in parts where they are needed and also gives the film some tension when its needed. The movie also features some good bass work. Its loud and full of rumble. This doesn't look like a movie that would need much bass, but what we get here is more than enough.

Conclusion:
When The Simpsons movie finally came out in theaters, I was alittle scared to see it because I didn't want a huge TV series like The Simpsons getting criticized over a bad movie. This movie was definitely going to make or break The Simpsons in general and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint for the most part. The story is better than any of the recent episodes with the entire cast still their. The music although not used enough still sounds good with the visual look of the film looking better than it ever has. The Simpsons Movie might feel like another good episode to many of the fans, but to newer audiences, its a great film. I only wish the movie itself was alittle longer.

Grade: B

REVIEW: The Kingdom

The Kingdom

Year: 2007
Director: Peter Berg
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, Ashraf Barhom
Distributor: Universal Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

When I first heard of The Kingdom, I wasn't really impressed. I thought the first trailer looked alright, but nothing too amazing. It was the second trailer, Universal released that got me excited to see this film. I thought the story looked cool and the actors looked pretty solid. Still, I opted for the DVD release because of the films mixed reviews. They weren't bad, but just not great as I would have hoped for.

Plot Outline:
An FBI team arrives to investigate the bombings that recently happened in Saudi Arabia, but find themselves limited to what they can do, due to the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia. As a bond develops between special agent Fleury (Jamie Foxx) and Col. Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom) the investigation leads towards a terrorist called Abu Hamza. It is up to agent Fleury plus his team and Col. Ghazi to find Abu Hamza and stop him.

Plot:
The story starts out with these cool artwork of images that basically set up the movie. As we continue forward, the story gets really interesting and intense. We get wonderful views of Saudi Arabia that really just add to the intensity of the films story. The plot of the film isn't really knew and has been done before. Their are parts where we get some introduction words on the bottom right that kind of tell us who this person is and what there doing, but they aren't needed because they don't really help. The action is nice and spread out pretty evenly so you don't really get bored. I didn't find director Peter Berg's style of camera shooting to be all that great. At times, it can be really effective and really immersing. Than their are times where it kind of gets annoying because of its constant shaking. If their is one thing about the film's story that I found to be somewhat problematic, its the alternative. The film never really explains the other (Saudi) side of the story. It would have helped if we knew what the other (Saudi) side was thinking about or what their plans were. With that said, the film is still pretty damn entertaining. Everything blows up the way it should and we never get any moments to stop breathing.

Cast:
The acting in The Kingdom is nicely solid. Jamie Foxx plays as Ronald Fleury and he does a good job here. I really enjoyed his character and thought he was a great choice to be playing this part. Jason Bateman plays as Adam Leavitt and he too does a good job here. His character wasn't annoying or distracting. I thought he fit well with everyone else and he gave an enjoyable performance. Jennifer Garner plays as Janet Mayes and she does alright. I'm not particularly sure if she was the ideal choice to be playing this part, but I think she does an OK job in her role. Chris Cooper plays as Grant Sykes and he also does a great job. Hes second to Fox in terms of performance. I think he was a great addition to this story. We also have Ashraf Barhom playing as Colonel Faris Al Ghazi. I think he does a good job in this role even though his character is mostly some kind of balance to the films story.

Picture:
The visual look of the film is pretty great. The film was released late last year so its film source is in good shape. Film grain is mostly condensed to a minimum and hardly gets in the way of things. Colors are somewhat oversaturated and kind of dull. They aren't as vibrant as I would have liked them to be and not really flashy. Even though the explosions look wonderful, most of the film was filmed outside in the hot weather and it doesn't result in a good eye popping experience. Black levels are generally strong and hold up well. Flesh tones are spot on and have that warm feeling to them. Detail is pretty great and shows alot of clarity. Close up shots reveal a good amount of detail and everything looks the way it should.

Sound:
The music in The Kingdom is pretty much none existent. Theirs hardly a score for the film and generally it feels somewhat quite. This comes as a disappointment seeing as how the trailers all had good music in them. I mean wheres that music by U2 that played during the recent trailer for the film? I know this is a dialogue driven film, but it would have been great to have some music during the action scenes. The Kingdom features a good bass mix. A film like this is bound to have some killer bass and it somewhat does. The bass goes nicely well with the films great explosions. Gun shots are easily heard and deliver a good amount of intensity to them.

Conclusion:
I really thought The Kingdom was going to be another boring movie about war, but I was really surprised to find another good popcorn flick. The story is very entertaining and pretty engaging. The cast is very solid and most of them deliver some good performances. The visual look of the film is pretty great and consist of good amount of detail. The soundtrack is lacking music which definitely would have been better, but it makes up for it in its bass. I enjoyed The Kingdom and can recommend it to those seeking a fun movie. Its action packed and filled with many parts that should keep you interested and strapped to your seat.

Grade: B-

REVIEW: A Scanner Darkly

A Scanner Darkly

Year: 2006
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson, Rory Cochrane
Distributor: Warner Independent Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

When I first saw the trailer for A Scanner Darkly, I really wanted to see it. I thought the visual look of the film and interesting plot looked really cool. It was also another movie adaptation from a novel by legendary SCI-FI whizz, Philip K. Dick. A Scanner Darkly only had a limited release so it wasn't big at the box office, but people slowly knew about it when it finally came to DVD. It was only than when people truly appreciated this great piece of art.

Plot Outline:
Bob Arctor (Keanu Reeves) is an undercover cop who is trying to find the ultimate source of a drug called Substance D by converting his house into a drug house and making friends with local junkies Freck (Rory Cochrane), Barris (Robert Downey Jr.) and Luckman (Woody Harrelson) as well as dealer Donna (Winona Rider). Arctor is in such deep cover that his own co-workers don't know his true identity and only know him as "Special Agent Fred". When he's at the office, he wears a scramble suit that alters his voice and gives him a constantly shifting appearance. But in order to maintain his cover, Arctor has to take Substance D, which is so addictive that if you try it just once, you're hooked. Substance D also has fairly serious side effects including hallucinations, paranoid fantasies and brain damage.

Plot:
The story of the film is based on Philip K. Dick's original novel "A Scanner Darkly". In fact, this is the only movie that stayed almost 100% faithful to the novel with only a few minor adjustments. I found the plot of the film to be very interesting and enticing. Its filled with suspense moments that just come at you and make you think alittle. The film has a story that isn't really clear the first time you see it, but it becomes more and more understandable the more you watch it. The film can also be somewhat trippy because of its creative story and visual aspect. We get introduced to these characters that we learn to coup with because there just living there ordinary lives. Director Richard Linklater really does a nice job of keeping the viewers interested in what their watching. Hes very creative and his directing really shows this. The only thing that kind of bugged me about this film was its length. I really wanted to see it go on alittle longer because I wanted to see the story continue. I'm not sure if author Philip K. Dick wrote a sequel to this movie, but I for one would easily pay to see one happen. I know the ending was pretty conclusive, but I would really pay to see maybe a longer cut of this film simply because I really was sucked into the story.

Cast:
Keanu Reeves plays as Bob Arctor and he does a really good job here. I think this was a smart decision by the studio to go with someone like Reeves for this part because Reeves really brings out the Bob Arctor that we all want. He does a nice job of portraying the character and I really liked his presence here. Robert Downey Jr. plays as James Barris and he too is great. He gives a very entertaining performance that's easily enjoyable. I think this was a part that was specifically lined towards him. Winona Ryder plays as Donna Hawthorne and shes pretty good. I thought she was another good choice by the studio and she does a good job here too. Woody Harrelson plays as Ernie Luckman and hes just funny. His character is also very entertaining and fun to watch. Rory Cochrane plays as Charles Freck and hes great. He gives a nice performance that I thought looked right for this movie.

Picture:
The visual look of the film is simply amazing. The film is made using a new animation process called interpolated rotoscoping. This makes the film feel and look like a comic strip come to life. Its not new and has been done before in 2001's Waking Life which director Richard Linklater also directed. There are some who argue that the film's visual style makes the movie seem unreal. They are somewhat right, but I think the film looks great this way.I personally think more movies should look like this. The film itself is free of any film grain. Colors seem somewhat washed out and slightly dark. They aren't vibrant, but they are dam sure pretty to look at. Black levels are strong and the darker scenes easily hold up well. Detail is pretty great with alot of clarity. You cant notice much in terms of detail in a film like this, but it does make the films outline alot sharper.

Sound:
The soundtrack in A Scanner Darkly is also great. The film has a lively score that's composed by Graham Reynolds. It goes very well with the film's visuals and is used very effectively. It really creates a sense of emotion in the films story. The film also has other music that simply plays during the credits. Even thought they aren't used much during the actual film itself, they are still great to listen to. A Scanner Darkly isn't the type of film that you would expect to have a strong bass and that's true. The film is heavily dialogue driven kind of like a film noire so their isn't much bass. What we do have here is perfectly fine on its own especially for an animated film like this. Its definitely not something Id use to demo off my new surround sound, but its not bad on its own.

Conclusion:
A Scanner Darkly is a great film that stays faithful to author Philip K. Dick's novel with the same name. Its got a interesting story that really sucks you in, I just wish it was longer because I didn't want it to end. The cast is great and everyone feels just right in their roles. The visual look of the film is simply amazing and wonderful to look at. I wish more films were made like this. The soundtrack is lively and nice to listen to. I recommend this film to Philip K. Dick fans and to those seeking a great film experience. You might not get it the first time you see it, but it gets better and better with each viewing. Watch it when your high or sober, It doesnt matter because you will enjoy it either way. This is easily my favorite film of all time.

Grade: B

REVIEW: Miami Vice

Miami Vice

Year: 2006
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Li Gong, Naomie Harris, Justin Theroux
Distributor: Universal Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

I first saw Miami Vice in theaters a couple days after it came out. I only saw it because of its awesome trailer. Surprisingly, it didn't turn out the way I had hoped because Miami Vice is a good example of how an awesome trailer can make an average movie look. The film didn't turn out as good as the trailer made it out to be. Ever since than, I haven't been able to convince myself to see this film again. The film itself did pretty good at the box office grossing an estimated $163 million worldwide, but it was hammered with some bad reviews.

Plot Outline:
Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jamie Foxx), are given a most difficult assignment. They are assigned to infiltrate a major drug cartel led by Jose Yero (John Ortiz), and find out who killed two undercover federal agents. It doesn't exactly help that Crockett falls in love with one of the cartel's most important member, Isabella (Gong Li).

Plot:
The film is based on the 80's TV series "Miami Vice". Seeing as how I never got the chance to see the TV series, I cant tell you how close the movie is to the series. I found the plot of Miami Vice to be pretty dull and un-original. It starts off nicely and looks like its heading somewhere, but it doesn't. The film's story is really slow and tends to drag. Theirs also too many things happening that you cant tell whats going on. The characters are unreadable and un-interesting. I couldn't care less as to what happens to them. Miami Vice also tends to keep its action to a bare minimum. We hardly get much action and when we do, it really isn't enough. The film is very dialogue driven with a bunch of people always talking. Id say a good 75% of the film is mostly just talking. This isn't a bad thing, but the trailer just left me the impression that we would have a bunch of action and yet we don't. The dialogue isn't even that good with some occasional cheesy lines here and their. With that said, Miami Vice can be somewhat entertaining. The scenes that do have action in them are generally good. Director Michael Mann knows how to shoot the movie and it does a nice job at it. His style of choice makes it as if you were right their with everybody.

Cast:
The cast for the film is a mixed bad. Colin Farrell plays as Det. Sonny Crockett and he does a fairly decent job. I would go as far as to say this is his best performance, but he doesn't do too bad of a job. He has the right look and face, but I'm not sure his voice is good for the part. Jamie Foxx plays as Det. Ricardo Tubbs and he too does a decent job. I was really expecting alot from Fox simply because of his performance in the 2004 hit film "Ray". He does an alright job as Tubbs, but I'm not so sure this was a good role for him. Li Gong plays as Isabella and shes just miscast here. I wasn't too fond of her performance in this film and thought it was really weak. I think someone else should have played this part. We also have Naomie Harris playing as Det. Trudy Joplin. She also does an alright job in her role, but it wasn't impressive. She doesn't have a big enough role in this film or much dialogue.

Picture:
The visual look of Miami Vice is somewhat of head scratcher. Director Michael Mann shot Miami Vice using mostly HD cameras. This would generally mean that the films source would be in clean shape resulting in less grain, but that's not the case here. Michael Mann intended to have a grain like feel to Miami Vice so he can make the film seem more real and intense. This doesn't mix well with the films video quality. Film grain is almost everywhere and can be easily seen. It necessarily isn't distracting, but it makes some of the night scenes feel somewhat washed out. Colors are muted and have some kind of overcast tone to them. Black levels are mostly good expect in some of the night scenes. Detail ranges from being good to being soft. Close up shots show a good amount of detail, but shots that aren't focused can look somewhat soft.

Sound:
The film features a good soundtrack. Composer John Murphy composes a nice score that goes pretty well with the films story and style. It isn't effectively used as I would have done, but it sounds good when its on. The film also features other music from various artists. We get a couple of Linkin Park songs here and their that go well with the film. Miami Vice doesn't contain a strong bass that most would expect. Since the film is heavily dialogue driven with only a few actions scenes, the bass doesn't mix well. Its also got to do with director Mann's style of shooting which doesn't fit well with the films bass. What we do have here is seemingly fine, but just don't expect to be blown away by it.

Conclusion:
Miami Vice is a disappointment compared to what the trailer made it out to be. The story is un-original and has too much going for it. The film just has too much dialogue with hardly any action. The cast is decent, but none of them really stand out from one another. The visual look of the film makes the film more intense and somewhat real, but it also makes the image very grainy. The soundtrack is pretty lively with some good music. Just don't expect much in terms of bass. I cant really say that this was a bad film considering that it does have some entertaining moments. It just doesn't come off the way the trailer made it out to be. I think its worth checking out if your into these slow action drama films.

Grade: C-

REVIEW: Lars and the Real Girl

Lars and the Real Girl

Year: 2007
Director: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Kelli Garner, Patricia Clarkson
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
MPAA: Rated PG-13

Lars and the Real Girl is a film that I have been dieing to see. Its been on my "to do list", but I have been so busy that I simply have forgotten about it. The film itself has been very limited in terms of release. Hardly any theaters around my place carried this film. Its one of those low budget films that not everyone sees when its released in theaters, but they end up discovering it when its released on DVD. Its a shame that this film hasn't been getting the much attention it deserves. I decided to check it out since its been getting very great reviews.

Plot Outline:
Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) becomes so lonely in his own little world that under a delusion he orders a high-priced sex doll. The only problem is that she's not real - she's a sex doll Lars ordered off the Internet. But sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep, meaningful relationship.

Plot:
This is a movie that could have easily gone wrong or suck balls. I mean a movie about someone falling in love with a sex doll? I know most people might think this is plain stupid just from reading the plot outline, but it honestly isn't. The plot is very interesting and deeply satisfying. Sure it does start off somewhat slow and their are some funny moments here and their, but just give it time. The characters that we are given are all lovable and enjoyable. Their wasn't one person that I found to be annoying or distracting. Director Craig Gillespie does a wonderful job of making us appreciate this sad yet loving story between a man and a doll. Its really hard for a person like me to cry during a certain scene. Its not because I don't have any emotion, its just that I'm a tough person and crying is somewhat of a last resort for me. Their have only been two movies that I know of where I have actually cried because of a certain part. The first was the 1994 sleeper hit, When a Man Loves a Woman and the other was the popular 2004 film, The Notebook. It looks like I can add another to that list because Lars and the Real Girl does have a few scenes that managed to shed some tears in my eyes. The films beautiful story is very heartwarming and delightful. It mixes the right amount of comedy with a good amount of loving.

Cast:
Ryan Gosling plays as Lars Lindstrom and he gives a fantastic performance that I simply loved. Gosling is a wonderful actor that brought out the sincerity and loneliness of the character Lars. Its about time they give this guy an Oscar because he really puts on a show. Emily Mortimer plays as Karin and she too is great. I enjoyed her presence and didn't think she was as annoying as she was inthe 2006 film, The Pink Panther. Paul Schneider plays as Lars's brother, Gus. I enjoyed his work here and thought he was pretty funny. He tends to ask questions that the viewers are wondering about and this some how makes him connect to us. Kelli Garner plays as Margo who secretly has a crush on Lars at the beginning of the film. I also enjoyed her role in this film and thought she belonged in this film. She makes a good person to play the love interest opposite Gosling. We also have the wonderful Patricia Clarkson playing as a therapist named Dagmar. I thought she played this part pretty good and I also enjoyed her in the film.

Picture:
The visual look of the film is great. The film was just released last year so its source is an excellent shape. I didn't notice any film grain and the image seemed pretty smooth. The color palette is slightly muted to go with the cold setting the film was filmed at. We still get some scenes that still show a good amount of colors mostly on the clothes that people wear. Black levels are great and the darker scenes seem dark. Flesh tones are perfect and have that warm feeling to them that most have come to expect. Detail is surprisingly great for a low budget film like this. Since we don't have much going on in terms of action, everything tends to look great. We get many close up shots of different faces for each character and they are all nicely detailed.

Sound:
The film features a charming soundtrack that is just fantastic. Composer David Torn composes a wonderful score that goes so well with the film. Its very well made and used very effectively. I had it stuck in my head after I finished seeing the movie. We also get many of other music that is mostly comprised of sweet melody and violin. These too sound great and go well with the films lovable story. Bass is pretty much on the downside and it shouldn't come off as a surprise considering the type of film it is and its low budget. Theirs absolutely nothing in the film that would even call for much bass so what we do have here is already fine enough. Its not great, but it will work.

Conclusion:
Lars and the Real Girl is a heartwarming film that I absolutely loved. The films story is creative and very interesting. This could have easily stunk and yet it doesn't it. The cast is great and Gosling should have won an Oscar by now. The visual look of the film is full of nice colors and good amount of detail. The soundtrack is pure and loving. It goes so well with the films story and its very nicely used. Theirs really not that many movies out their that I give such high praise for, but this is one of them. I simply loved this film and can easily recommend it if your alittle patient with a films story and if you have an open mind. Even though the film came out last year, this is simply one of the best films I have seen this year.

Grade: A-

REVIEW: Top Gun

Top Gun

Year: 1986
Director: Tony Scott
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
MPAA: Rated PG

Top Gun is one of the most popular films ever made. It came out during the late 80's and really launched Tom Cruise's career to stardom. The film became a box office hit grossing an estimated $353 million worldwide on a small budget of only $15 million. It also broke more records when the film was first released on VHS. I've really never had the chance to see this film simply because I haven't thought about it. I mean I knew about it, but just never had the time to look it up. It was only recently that one of my friends were talking about it that caught my interest.

Plot Outline:
Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his best friend Goose (Anthony Edwards) are two cocky, talented pilots working in the US Navy. After they succeed in rescuing a fellow pilot who nearly died in mid-air combat, their commanding officer Stinger (James Tolkan) decides to send them to Top Gun, a top flying school that trains the best of the best of the US Navy's fighter pilots. Maverick falls for a lovely astrophysics instructor named Charlotte (Kelly McGillis) and strives to prove himself the best pilot in this demanding course. He faces both stiff competition from a fellow pilot named Iceman (Val Kilmer) as well as personal conflict dealing with the mysterious death of his father.

Plot:
The story for the film is a mixed bag. The plot isn't very interesting and doesn't give you enough to know everything. The film tries to focus on its romance between the characters Maverick and Charlotte. This doesn't pay off well because theirs hardly any chemistry between them. The film is also pretty predictable and straight forward. The story doesn't do anything to help you root for any of the characters. It makes it difficult to cheer for Maverick when someone like Iceman ends up being just as good even though Maverick is the main character of the film. All of this results in you mostly not caring about the story. I couldn't care if Iceman was winning by more points or when some certain person died. All I cared about was the awesome flight scenes and If their is one thing that Top Gun does right, its this. Director Tony Scott knows how to pull off some great action scenes and he doesn't disappoint here. We get many aerial dog fights that are nicely choreographed and highly entertaining. They are so much fun to watch and some of the best I have seen even to this day.

Cast:
Tom Cruise plays as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and he does a pretty good job here. This obviously isn't his best performance that he has given, but I kind of enjoyed him as Maverick. I thought he showed good charisma and it was fun watching him in those dog fights. Kelly McGillis plays as Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood and I wasn't impressed with her performance. She doesn't have good chemistry with Cruise and her character can be one dimensional at times. Val Kilmer plays as Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazansky and I fairly enjoyed his work here. Like Cruise, Kilmer doesn't deliver a performance that I found to be great, but I still somewhat enjoyed his character. He makes a decent opponent opposite Cruise. We also have Anthony Edwards playing as Lt. JG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw. I enjoyed the energy he gave to his character and he was mildly entertaining.

Picture:
The visual look for Top Gun is pretty good. The film was released almost 4 years ago as part of a 2 disc special collectors edition courtesy of Paramount Pictures. The films source is in pretty good shape so film grain isn't too much of a hassle. I did notice a few scratches here and their, but I think that's because of the films age rather than the disc. Colors are wonderfully vivid. They are vibrant and pretty eye popping. Black levels are nice and inky. Everything just feels natural and the way it should look. Detail is surprisingly good for a film of its age. Top Gun is about 24 years old, but the level of detail here is somewhat startling. Close up shots reveal a good amount of clarity and detail. Props to the guys at Paramount for a nicely done transfer.

Sound:
The soundtrack for Top Gun is easily the most loved aspect of this film. Harold Faltermeyer composes a wonderful score that really gives this film some extra legs. Not only does it go so well with the films atmosphere, but it is also pretty exciting to hear. I will never get tired of listening to "Danger Zone" over again and again. The film also has many other music from the 80's and these too go well with the film. Top Gun also features some stunning bass work. For a 24 year old film like this, the bass is damn impressive. Dynamics are loud and the audio sequences easily hold up to some of today's films. The impact the bass makes when an F-14 Tomcat takes off is simply mind blowing. Paramount deserves another applaud for doing a fantastic job with the films soundtrack.

Conclusion:
Top Gun isn't a great film nor is it really any good, but its so much fun. The story isn't very interesting and doesn't do a good job of explaining certain elements from its plot. The cast is pretty good with most of them putting on a show that you will somewhat enjoy. The visual look of the film features bright and vibrant colors with some good amount of detail. The soundtrack is simply great and consists of a wonderful score with a smashing bass. Its really hard not to like Top Gun simply because its very entertaining. Sure their are problems with it, but the awesomely well made flight sequences somewhat makes up for it. I think Top Gun is worth checking out if your looking for some fun. Just don't go in with high expectations because you will probably end up disappointed.

Grade: C-

REVIEW: Prom Night

Prom Night

Year: 2008
Director: Nelson McCormick
Starring: Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Johnathon Schaech, Idris Elba, James Ransone
Distributor: Screen Gems
MPAA: Rated PG-13

Prom Night was released early this April to many horror fans. The film that was essentially a remake of the original 1980 film "Prom Night", grossed an estimated $54 million worldwide on a small budget of $20 million. I really didn't want to see Prom Night in theaters when it came out. I thought the movie looked plain stupid and not worth my time. That said, I was kind of in the mood for some horror and this was the only film that was recently just released. Ever since I saw The Strangers, I kind of got interested in the horror genre. So every now and then, I occasionally watch a horror movie or two.

Plot Outline:
Donna Keppel (Brittany Snow) is about to go to her senior prom and let herself have some fun after going through some extremely traumatic events in the past few years. She and her friends arrive at the prom, which is taking place in a grand hotel, and try and enjoy what is supposed to be the most fun night of their lives. Little does anyone know, a man from Donna's past, who has haunted her for years, is also at the prom and is willing to kill anyone that comes between Donna and him.

Plot:
The story is essentially a remake of the 1980's version. The problem is that this version doesn't follow the 1980' version. Their are some little things that the two of them share, but most of the stuff from the original has been cut out. I found the films plot to be pretty useless and predictable. Its so un-original and un-bearing compared to other horror films. The fact that the villain of the film some how manages to escape through a ventilation shaft in a maxium state facility, makes the whole story pretty useless. The film's characters are also un-interesting and really dull. We also get the usual cheesy lines that have come a custom to these types of films. Prom Night is also rated PG-13 instead of the normal R rating that generally most horror films get. This results in less blood, sex, violence and scary moments that again, most horror films have. The movie is also pretty weak in terms of scary moments. I couldn't find one scene in the movie that scared me or made me jump out of my seat. How can you call this a horror/thriller movie when their is simply no scary moments in the film? Their are many more things that hamper the story of Prom Night, but I think I have said enough.

Cast:
The cast for Prom Night is horrible. Brittany Snow plays as the main character of the film, Donna Keppel. Her acting isn't impressive and neither is her voice. Her screams are terrible for a horror film. She could have easily been replaced by someone else. Scott Porter plays as Donna's boyfriend, Bobby. His acting is so plain and pretty bad. I find it hilarious that his character is hardly as scared as some of the other students when they find out a killer is loose in the building. Johnathon Schaech plays as the villain of the film, Richard Fenton. His character is very dull and simply has nothing going for him. I mean who's idea was it to have the villain of the film wear some kind of baseball hate 80% of the time instead of something like a mask? We also have Idris Elba playing as Detective Winn. I cant count how many cheesy lines this guy really has. His acting is also terrible and just plain weak. Someone else could have played this part or any other roles in the movie alot better.

Picture:
The visual look of Prom Night is probably the only thing good about the movie. The film's source is pretty clean which shouldn't come as a surprise considering it was released in theaters a couple months ago. Film grain isn't an issue and everything looks the way it should. Colors are nicely vibrant and somewhat eye popping. You can really appreciate the colors when the characters finally get to the prom. Black levels hold up pretty well with darker scenes being pretty inky. Detail is somewhat of a hit and miss. Their are times where the film shows a pretty good amount of detail on peoples faces. Than their are times where some scenes can look pretty soft. This is still a pretty good looking movie considering the type of film it is and its budget.

Sound:
The soundtrack in Prom Night doesn't mix well. The movie hardly has a score, but it does have music. The music is a mixture of rap/hip hop and some rock. The problem is that it doesn't go well with the films mood. Its all over the place and hardly used when needed. The film is mostly dialogue driven so we don't get much music. The films bass is mostly on the downside. Dynamics aren't as loud as I would have hoped for. Prom Night doesn't feature much scenes that really require much bass. What we get here seems more than enough for a film like this.

Conclusion:
Prom Night is probably one of the worst horror films I have seen. The fact that the movie isn't really a horror flick makes it even worse. The story is un-original and not very creative. Their isn't much going on to keep you interested and keep you from switching to another movie. The cast is so dull and pretty terrible. Their wasn't one performance in this movie that surprised me or caught me off guard. The visual look for the film is mostly good with bright and vibrant colors. The soundtrack is lacking good music and suspense. I didn't enjoy this movie and thought it was pure crap. I was so close to giving it an "F" for its grade, but I think that's being alittle too harsh. Id definitely skip this movie even if your looking for a good horror film.

Grade: D-

REVIEW: Felon

Felon

Year: 2008
Director: Ric Roman Waugh
Starring: Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, Harold Perrineau, Marisol Nichols, Sam Shepard
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
MPAA: Rated R

Felon was released late last month with a limited theatrical run. Its a low budget film that hardly anyone knew about. I have been waiting to review this film for quite some time now. My friend had seen the movie before me and warned me of how bad the film really was. This interested me because I enjoy reviewing movies that others tend to hate. Its not because of joy, but rather my own feeling for the movie. Most people feel different about movies and some tend to like what others tend to hate. That and I generally like Val Kilmer as an actor.

Plot Outline:
Wade Porter (Stephen Dorff) suddenly loses everything when he accidentally kills the burglar who broke into his home. Convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Wade is sentenced to spend the next three years inside a maximum security facility where the rules of society no longer apply. Forced to share a cell with a notorious mass murderer named John Smith (Val Kilmer) and subjected to brutal beatings orchestrated by the sadistic head prison guard known as Lt. Jackson (Harold Perrineau), Wade soon realizes he's in for the fight of his life and must become the toughest of them to survive.

Plot:
The story of Felon is loosely based on true events that happened in the Corcoran State Prison. The movie doesn't do a whole lot that makes it different from other films that have the same premise. I have seen many films like this in the past. This necessarily isn't a bad thing since the movie as a whole is pretty good. The plot is simple and pretty straight forward. A man kills someone on accident and is sent to prison. The movie tends to get interesting and exciting after each scene. The many fights and punishments we see while the main character is in prison, is pretty cool. I wasn't too found of director Ric Roman Waugh's shooting habits. Every shot seems wobbly and unstable. The camera moves more here than in any of the Bourne films. I'm sure it was the directors intention to make it more realistic, but it doesn't really work and gets annoying after awhile. Their is the occasional character development that is somewhat missing mostly in the character that Kilmer plays. Even with all this said, Felon is still a suspenseful entertaining movie.

Cast:
Stephen Dorff plays as Wade Porter and he gives a good performance that I found to be his most impressive one. I haven't seen most of Dorff's films, but hes very good here. I found his performance of an ordinary man being sent to prison to be believable. Val Kilmer plays as John Smith and he too gives a good performance. Ill admit that I wasn't too impressed with his work at the start of the film, but as the movie progressed so did his performance. Harold Perrineau plays as Lt. Jackson and he gives an OK performance. The last time I saw him in a movie was in The Matrix sequels, but he gives a much better performance here compared to those films. I still think someone else could have played the part of a badass prison captain alittle better. We also have Marisol Nichols playing as Laura Porter. Now, I haven't really seen her in any other movies, but I think she does a fine job here. Nothing special, but better than average.

Picture:
The visual look for Felon is somewhat of a mixed bag. The movie is relatively new and yet, it has alot of film grain. I think this was part of the directors intention to make the film look gritty, but it still happens to get in the way. Colors seem muted and somewhat pale. They aren't as vibrant and colorful as I would have hoped for. Blacks are generally strong and some of the darker scenes look great. Skin tones are pretty spot on and accurate. Detail is surprisingly great for a low budget film like this. You cant really tell when the characters are far away, but close up shots reveal alot of detail and clarity.

Sound:
The soundtrack for the film is also pretty good. The film has a good score by composer Gerhard Daum. It goes well with the films story and atmosphere. Besides that, their isn't a whole lot of music in Felon which shouldn't come off as a surprise considering its a prison movie. The movie doesn't offer a whole lot in the bass department either. Since their isn't much action going on besides the prison fights, the bass isn't much needed. I mean what we have here is perfectly fine for a low budget film like this, but just don't expect it to be demo worthy.

Conclusion:
Felon is an interesting movie that doesn't offer us anything we haven't seen in the past, but so what. The story is pretty entertaining despite the directors wobbly camera direction. The cast is mostly good with most of them giving out good performances that I personally enjoyed. The visual look of the film is generally grainy, but has a good amount of detail on the character's faces. The soundtrack works and matches the gritty, yet lonely atmosphere of the film. I enjoyed Felon and can recommend this to those seeking a good prison movie because its worth checking out.

Grade: C+

REVIEW: Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express

Year: 2008
Director: David Gordon Green
Starring: Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny R. McBride, Gary Cole, Craig Robinson
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
MPAA: Rated R

After seeing most of the previous Apatow films and the actual trailer for the movie, Pineapple Express was bound to become the next big thing from those guys. The trailer looked very funny, but also made the movie look like it was going to be more story developed compared to something like Superbad. My only grip that had me alittle worried were the films reviews which weren't as high as previous Apatow related films. I mean they were still good, but not great. I was very eager and somewhat curious to see this film since the reviews haven't been much positive. I had to see for myself so my friend and I bought tickets Thursday for the late night showing.

Plot Outline:
Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) is a process server who loves to smoke marijuana any time of the day. His dealer, Saul (James Franco), is only happy to further provide him with his drug habit. On a routine call for his job, Dale witnesses a murder at the home of Ted Jones (Gary Cole). Having nowhere else to run, he turns to Saul and the two of them try to figure out whats going on.

Plot:
The script is written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg who also wrote the story for Superbad. The movie starts off good by introducing us to these characters that we will grow to love. These characters are entertaining and fun to watch. We get the usual raunchy jokes that are now a common thing in any Apatow related movie. These jokes are pretty funny, but don't come close to some of the jokes we have heard in previous Apatow films. Even though the movie started off good, the story goes pretty much downhill after the first half. The jokes stop being funny and the story ends up going a more serious route kind of like in Hot Fuzz. The only thing is that Hot Fuzz totally nailed this formula, but here it just doesn't seem to go well with movie. Theirs also many moments in the film that seem totally unrealistic and inaccurate, but these are just small things that you shouldn't take too seriously. In the end, were left with some un-answered questions that pretty much leave you hanging. If I had to put the Apatow related films that I have seen in order judging them for their story and creativity, it would go something like this: Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Pineapple Express and Step Brothers.

Cast:
Seth Rogen plays as Dale Denton and hes great for his role. I very much enjoyed him playing the main character in Knocked Up and he does a good job here too. He fits the character of Dale smoothly and I couldn't imagine anyone else replacing him. James Franco plays as Saul Silver and he too is good in his role. His character shares good chemistry with Rogen's character. I honestly didn't expect much from him, but I was pleasantly surprised. Danny R. McBride plays as Red and hes decent here. Even though his character is probably the only one that's going to be filled with questions, I still liked his character. Gary Cole plays as Ted Jones and I somewhat enjoyed him here, but his character can be one dimensional at times. We also have Craig Robinson playing as Matheson and I personally loved him in this role. His lines are good and generally made the movie a lot funnier.

Picture:
The visual look for the film is pretty good, but not great. The films source is in good condition and I didn't notice any film grain. Colors look somewhat oversaturated and dull. They certainly aren't bad, but they just aren't as vibrant as I would have liked it to be. I think Forgetting Sarah Marshall consisted of better colors, but I guess it isn't fair to compare the two since the later is filmed mostly on tropical islands. Flesh tones are generally good and seem spot on for the most part. Detail can be good at times, but can also look alittle soft. For the most part, the detail holds up and close up shots look wonderful. Their are a few times where the image doesn't consist of much detail even if the camera is filmed close up. This is still a good looking film especially for a comedy.

Sound:
The soundtrack in Pineapple Express is kind of weird. The film really doesn't have much music in it which comes off as a surprise considering the trailer had that wonderful M.I.A. song that went well with the trailer. That's missing here and instead the movie relies more on its dialogue rather than the music. This isn't generally a bad thing, but it is kind of a let down since Knocked Up, Superbad and even Forgetting Sarah Marshall had good music. The dialogue in the film is great and everyone has something to say. Bass is surprisingly much better than the previous Apatow related films. This is mostly because their are many action scenes in Pineapple Express that make use of its bass. We have a good amount of explosions and the bass hold up pretty well.

Conclusion:
Pineapple Express is an entertaining movie that I generally enjoyed. The story is pretty good and mildly funny if you don't take it too seriously. Sure its got problems here and their, but its still a fun movie. I enjoyed the cast even though their were a few people I wasn't too impressed with. The visual look of the film is good for a comedy film like this. The soundtrack is lacking good music, but it makes up for it with its bass. I still think Knocked Up was the better film out of the Apatow pictures that I have seen. I can recommend this film to those who have seen films like Superbad, Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin or Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Even though it isn't as great as those films, its still better than Step Brothers. The film is worth watching, but just don't go in with high expectations because you might be disappointed.

Grade: C+

REVIEW: The Bank Job

The Bank Job

Year: 2008
Director: Roger Donaldson
Starring: Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, Richard Lintern
Distributor: Lionsgate
MPAA: Rated R

When The Bank Job initially hit theaters this year, I wasn't too interested in it. I mean it looked like a good fun movie, but I just wasn't compelled to watch it. What I did find fascinating was that the movie was based on a true story. The movie also did well in theaters by grossing an estimated $45 million worldwide on a budget of only $20 million. It got mostly positive reviews from critics and people who have seen the movie. So why didn't I see this film in theaters? I guess I must have not looked into it. I guess waiting for the DVD release was the option I had opted for.

Plot Outline:
Terry Leather (Jason Statham) isn't making it as a car salesman and has debts to pay to the crime world. He meets an old sweetheart Martine Love (Saffron Burrows) who proposes that Terry and his friends rob a bank that is due for security repairs. Martine just happens to be working with a fellow who wants some rusty photographs of Princess Margaret in questionable sexual scenes and has Martine setup the 'easy heist'. Terry and friends agree to the venture and begin to burrow into the bank vault under cover of night and clever means. Once Terry, Martine and friends successfully achieve their goal, all manner of complications occur that involves the police and governmental corruption.

Plot:
The story of The Bank Job is actually pretty good. The story is loosely based on a true life robbery of a Lloyds Bank in London. The film isn't a 100% telling of how it happened with some certain things changed here and their, but it comes close. The premise of the movie is great and makes for an interesting plot. The movie also becomes pretty entertaining as we see Terry and his gang breaking in on this bank. I enjoyed the plot twists and found the pacing of the movie to be pretty good. The film also mixes in a right amount of comedy and suspense that should keep you interested at all times. Sure their are some areas that tend to drag alittle here and their, but its solid for the most part. My one complaint I have about this movie is that theirs simply too much stuff going on. I mean we have the general story of Terry and his bank job, but we also get introduced to another side story. In the end, it feels like the writers had alot of ideas, but tried to cram them together. That and I also didn't like director Donaldson's somewhat wobbly direction.

Cast:
The cast for the film is pretty solid. Jason Statham plays as Terry Leather and he does his usual thing. I think he was good in his role, but kind of made the cast seem alittle uneven. I still enjoyed his work in this film and thought he was the right man for the job. Saffron Burrows plays as Martine Love in the movie. She does a fairly good job in her role, but I didn't find her character to be memorable or interesting. She doesn't share much chemistry with Statham's character, but I still found her role to be generally decent. Stephen Campbell Moore plays as Kevin Swain and hes somewhat decent in this role. He doesn't break out from anyone else and give us something to remember him for, but still pretty decent work. We also have Daniel Mays playing as Dave Shilling and he too gives a somewhat decent performance, but I did like his character more than Moore's. I generally liked his performance and found it interesting.

Picture:
The visual look of The Bank Job is pretty great. The film doesn't consist of any film grain that I detected. The films source seems pretty clean and smooth. Color on the other hand is somewhat of a problem. The directors bleak color palette for the film doesn't make for much color. I mean I think it made the movie have a cool overcast feel to it, but it also doesn't flush out enough color to make the film look wonderful. Their are a few scenes in the movie that offer generally a good amount of color, but these are mostly near the end. On the other hand, the detail is pretty is great. Close up shots show a good amount of detail and clarity. You can literally see a good amount of wrinkles on some of the characters. Flesh tones also seem realistic and natural.

Sound:
The soundtrack in The Bank Job is mighty impressive. The movie doesn't feature a memorable score nor does it sound like it even has one. The good thing is that the movie consists of good amount of music that seem to go well with the story. Their aren't many of them, but for the scenes that do have, they sound good. The Bank Job also features a surprisingly strong bass. I honestly wasn't expecting much in terms of bass on this, but I was proven wrong. Its aggressive when it needs to be and definitely loud. Dynamics hold up well and the bass goes all around instead of just coming from the front. I wouldn't go as far as to say the soundtrack in The Bank Job is reference material, but it surely comes close.

Conclusion:
The Bank Job is a great entertaining movie that should please those seeking some fun. The story is pretty good and is based on a true story. Sure theirs alot going on and some scenes can tend to drag, but a good story overall. The cast is fairly good with Jason Statham playing an enjoyable role that I personally liked. The visual look of the movie is pretty bleak and isn't eye popping like some other films in the same league, but it offers a good amount of detail. The soundtrack contains an impressive bass that was more than what I expected. The Bank Job isn't perfect, but its still a great movie. I would recommend it if your into heist movies because it certainly can be entertaining.

Grade: B-