I Am Legend...and awesome.

Awesome movie. Going in I knew little about the movie, besides Will Smith being the last man on Earth and creepy human-like vampire/monsters trying to kill him. This movie will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. As Mandy said in her review, some scenes in abandoned New York City will make you think, "How did they do that?". Are they CG sets or did they barricade off sections of the city? Like I said, it will keep you on edge. I can honestly say, I jumped the biggest I have jumped in a movie theater for a long time, probably since I saw "Signs". I can't remember the exact scene, but it got me pretty bad for some reason. Will Smith does a great job, and the film has a lot of heart. Most of the movie is just Will Smith and his dog Sam and you never lose interest. You really start to care for Smith and Sam, and a particular scene with the two of them is quite emotional. The ending is a little unexpected and refreshing, especially concidering recent blockbuster movie endings (War of the Worlds comes to mind). I did want a little more explination on exactly how the vampire/monsters came to be but a small complaint. Go see it.

Must See ***1/2

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

Early Tuesday morning I jumped out of bed ran into the shower and off I went to the theatre to begin the 2008 Movie Marathon. I got to the theatre only to find I had my choice of parking spots as NO ONE was there. I walked to the box office and presented the cashier with my list. His eyes bugged out and he told me he had seen three movies in one day, but never six. (Funny enough, he randomly was the cashier for everyone else with a schedule and eventually asked, “how may of you are there?”) So with my bundle of tickets in hand I head to the concessions counter, where it was made apparent that I was the only person in the theatre that didn’t work there. I bought a diet coke and headed off to Theatre 16-The Water Horse. 9:00 AM.

Most people have figured out from the previews that this movie is about the Loch Ness Monster. What they may have not expected was the story about the little boy Angus, who discovers the monster. Angus is about 8 years old and growing up in World War II Scotland. He has become somewhat reclusive, waiting daily for his father to return home from the War. Angus accidentally discovers the mystical creature as an egg, but it is the Loch Ness monster that helps Angus come out of his shell.

Although the movie itself is about a mystical or magical creature, the movie is not fanciful or full of hocus pocus. Totally unexpected, it was sweet without being trite or campy. It is fun, has a cute plot that involves more than just the little boys world, but the whole War.

*** Must See

Rated PG (mild violence)

MOVIE MARATHON 2008!

Well another year has come and gone and with that brought the traditional New Years celebratory events; staying up way too late, playing games, eating way too much, new years resolutions and of course the annual Movie Marathon. Many of you may be aware of the Annual Movie Marathon, if not, you may now consider yourself informed. Several people braved the event. Be mindful this is in fact a marathon and not for the weak, so don't feel bad if you couldn't make it through the whole day...it takes some people years of training. Anyway I will be adding on reviews to the blog in due time, but just wanted to give a quick overview of the event. All in all, not a bad year, I would say 4/6 is not too shabby.

The Water Horse: ***
Juno: ****
Charlie Wilson's War: ***
Atonement: * (if even that)
The Great Debaters: ***1/2
Sweeney Todd: **

The Return of Goofy! Oh, and National Treasure 2.

National Treasure 2 was the selection for the annual Dibb family Christmas Eve movie, poor selection. I didn't like the first one and the second was worse. Both National Treasures and the Da Vinci Code movie just don't do it for me. The characters figure out puzzles and mysteries way too easily and it becomes annoying. It's like "Oh! A pine tree sketched into a rock.....Oh yes, that means Queen Elizabeth had a Christmas tree in her 3rd year of rule in her winter cabin, which was taken from a forrest in the Swiss Alps! Quick! To the Alps we go!" And Nicholas Cage isn't at his best and his sidekick tries to be a little too funny and becomes just as annoying as he was in the first one. I know a lot of people who really liked the first one so maybe they'll like this one, but I don't like either of them.

*1/2

Definitely the highlight of this movie experience was the return of Disney 2D animated shorts. Before the movie there was a new Goofy animated short called "How to Hook Up Your Home Theater". It's about Goofy buying a new home theater and all the troubles that entails. It was hilarious and very well done, totally on par with the Disney shorts of old, and apparentely Disney is going to continue doing this. Great news. This is all because the head of Pixar Animation, John Lasseter, took over all Disney animation as well. Great move.

****

27 Dresses

Always a brides maid, never a bride. That is the theme of this chick flick. I went and saw the sneak preview the other night. The entire theatre was female, wait I take that back, there was one lone man in a baseball cap near the top. I am certain he was dragged there by his, wife, girlfriend, or possibly daughters...and I feel for him. This movie is about Jane who has been not just a brides maid, but a maid of honor 27 times and she has the dresses to prove it. A wedding columnist discovers her unique perspective on weddings and begins to tail her.

27 Dresses starts out really well and you think that you are in for an hour and a half of fun and fluff, but then it takes a turn and tries desperately to be full of heart. It never really comes together as none of the characters, including Katherine Heigl, are very likeable. I didn't hate this movie, but it is by no means a memorable romantic comedy.

** Rentable

PG-13 (language and some sexual content)

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

So I didn't see the first National Treasure. I don't know that it really matters as I seemed fully able to follow the new story without the aid of the previously mentioned movie. It would seem in this episode, Ben Gates (Cage) is trying to clear the name of his great-great grandfather, Thomas Gates, who has been accused as one of the masterminds behind the Lincoln assassination. To do this he must prove that Thomas Gates was listed amongst the conspirators because he had information to an ancient American Indian treasure and that the confederates were after it. How does he prove this?....find the treasure.

Although the idea is kind of fun...the movie is not. Much like The Da Vinci Code, they pull information out of no where, which isn't that much fun to watch. Part of the whole "going to the movies" experience is in fact visual, so when you don't get to see how someone is figuring out clues, but just pulling it out of thin air and rushing around--eh, not so much fun. The dialogue is hokey and Nicolas Cage is too old, his hair looks fake. Oh but for those of you that are in love with this new action adventure series, fear not, they blatantly inform us of soon to be part 3.

** Rentable

Rated PG (for some violence)

Alvin and The Chipmunks

Fortunately nobody vomited during this movie, which is a good sign I guess. Since I worked on "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The video game" for the new movie, the company I work for took us all to it. We do that for all the movie-games we work on. Needless to say expectations were very low going in, and that helped. It's actually entertaining, quite mediocre, but not terrible, it makes you laugh at parts. There's actually a joke with helium that is quite unexpected and quite funny. Kids will probably enjoy this movie a lot, parents will find it somewhat barable. Don't rush to your local theater, unless your kids really want to see this or you are a die-hard Chipmunks fan.

And go buy "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The videogame" for your Wii, Playstation, Nintendo DS or PC today. Keep in mind the videogame is also for kids, but keep an eye out for the animation, I did most of the Alvin animations for the game.

**

I am Legend

Well this was one movie experience that I will probably never forget. So I head to the midnight showing of I am Legend, IMAX version. The tickets were bought online for the 11:59 showing. I arrived at the theatre at 11:30...my mistake. The theatre was totally packed and I ended up in the handicap seats right in the middle of the front row, just below the railing. Not great, but not all that horrid. So I sit there chit chatting waiting for the movie to begin. When suddenly the guy behind me projectile vomits, yes I said vomit. Spewing vile chunks of popcorn, soda, and just a "little bit" of Jack Daniels all over the railing and onto the floor. Luckily the railing protected me from the acid rain and I escaped relatively unscathed. Unfortunately so did the vomiter. He just stood up and left, leaving the abominable residue cascading all over the seats, floor, and wall....the smell was...pungent to say the least. Now I mention all of this, because as I said before, the theatre is packed and there is really no where else to go. Those sitting next to the PRIME seats, now stewing in acid fled the scene quickly. One girl started crying. After about 10 minutes some poor underpaid employee was sent in to clean it up, he had that special throw-up powder and some delightful spray. Poor kid.

So the movie starts, or the previews do. Now this is an important part as one (of the two) previews was the new Batman Movie: The Dark Night. (Only playing in IMAX theatres). Honestly, this preview alone is worth seeing the movie for, I must say that this Batman looks to be one of the most gritty. It was AWESOME! Yes, I just said awesome.

I am Legend is about a lone man that survived the spread of a man made virus that wiped out the human race. Honestly I don't know that I can say more than that. I don't want to spoil anything. This is a "on the edge of your seat" type movie that was unexpectedly so much fun. Will Smith was great and although I would classify this movie as a horror genre don't be swayed by that. You maybe constantly on edge, but there are thought provoking scenes throughout the movie that are so well done. The CGI is AMAZING, and the cinematography is great. You find yourself thinking, "how did they do this"? This is not a movie that will go down in history, it is another Will Smith flick--but something I would see again--preferably without the vomit.

*** MUST SEE

Rated PG-13 (for violence)

The Golden Compass

Ok so I went and saw the Golden Compass the other day. Mind you I went in blind, not knowing anything about the book or the controversy that it has caused with the Bible Belt. Sooooo....the movie itself is about a little girl Lyra that lives in a world where your soul does not live inside your body, but walks around next to you in the shape of an animal and is referred to as your "daemon" pronounced demon. Lyra, an orphan has been raised at a Cambroxford type University, where her guardian Uncle stops in to check on her from time to time. He however has caused a wrinkle in the perfectly pressed life of the Magisterium by discovering the source of "dust". Lyra is in possession of a Golden Compass that only she can decipher and the Magisterium wants it. In the mean time her Uncle is in pursuit of dust, the magic that connects worlds together.

If this sounds confusing, good. It should. The movie itself has some really fun special effects, but there is extremely limited storyline or plot to be found. Most likely because in the process of adaptation the screenwriter left out all of the religious content. Religious content you ask? Well if you are like me and somewhat ignorant when it comes to literature, let me give you a readers digest version of the book. CAUTION: This could be considered a spoiler: Ok so in the book the Magisterium is referred to as the "Church" and Lyra's Uncle who feels that the Church has far too much control over peoples lives sets out to study the dust so that he can rid the world of original sin. His plan; to kill God. *Gasp*

So there you have the major plot point. However it is missing entirely from the movie, which unfortunately leaves the movie like an empty shell. Cool on the outside but nothing holding it together. It makes very little sense and even the little bit that does loses steam about half way into it. The end is a shameless plea for a sequel, but I doubt there really is a need for one.

** Rentable

Rated PG-13 (for violence)

Slug watches "Churchball"

I finally had surgery on my gimpy right knee on Wednesday morning. HALLELUJAH!! I only tore my acl 4 months ago, so needless to say, I'm glad to have the surgery in the rearview mirror. So for the next 4 weeks I look forward to being back at my parents, laying like a slug on the couch, able to do nothing but elevate my leg and watch movies. And then 6 months of rehab. So if you see me sometime in the next 6 months, don't be surprised if I'm a little more huskie than you remember me being, extended periods of inactivity and mom feeding you every meal will do that to you. But anyway, in my sluggified state, my parents recieved their new Netflix movie, "Church Ball". A film depicting the violent world that is Mormon Church Basketball, aka the brawl that starts with a prayer. The movie is kind of dumb but actually quite funny, especially to those of you who've had any experience with real church ball. I saw Hulk Hogan on Jay Leno once say professional wrestling is nothing compaired to Mormon church basketball. The character that has a swearing problem was particularly entertaining, he had me laughing quite a bit, they bleep out his swearing which somehow makes it even more funny.

I recommend renting it, especially if you've played church ball.

**