Review - G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra

"G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra" is based on the Hasbro toy line, as well as a 1980's animated series and comic book. A convoy carrying a top-secret bioweapon is attacked by a heavily armed and well-organized group...and is just as quickly rescued by the same. The two surviving members of the convoy, Duke and Ripcord, are recruited into a top-secret multi-nation military group led by General Hawk. Along with Scarlett, Heavy Duty, Breaker and Snake Eyes, they must attempt to recover the stolen weapons from the hands of Cobra.

Anyone who remembers G.I. Joe from their childhood will get a kick out of this movie. The action sequences are spectacular, and despite introducing several characters in such a short time span, they not only do so, but give detailed backstories for several. The new backstory between Duke and the Baroness is different...but it does work for the story. There is just enough of a plot and some humor inserted in opportune moments.

Granted, some of the performances are not incredible. I refuse to believe Marlon Wayans was the best person they could find to play Ripcord, and Channing Tatum's Duke was more wooden than Pinocchio. Rachel Nichols was amazing as Scarlett, and Sienna Miller just about stole the movie as the Baroness. Ray Park and Byung-hun Lee were both outstanding as Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow respectively.

All in all, a solid and fun summer action movie. With any luck, this won't be the last time we see these characters on the big screen.

The Passing Of John Hughes

Today, one of the true icons of the 1980's passed away. John Hughes, the writer/producer/director, died of a heart attack at age 59. He was the creator of some of the most easily recognized movies of the 1980's, including "Sixteen Candles", "Pretty In Pink", and "Some Kind Of Wonderful." However, his most famous works had to be "Ferris Buellar's Day Off", "The Breakfast Club", and "Home Alone".

Review - 28 Weeks Later

"28 Weeks Later" is the sequel to the surprise science-fiction hit "28 Days Later". In the beginning, we see a small house in England. Six people are holed up, trapped by the infected people running the streets. A small boy manages to find them...only to lead the infected to them. One lone man manages to escape. We fast-forward seven months, and people are being allowed back into London, which has now been declared free of infection. The US Army has been cleaning up, and believes that the Rage virus has been eliminated. Unfortunately...they're dead wrong.

This movie can easily be categorized in the same genre as "Outbreak". A fictional movie, certainly. However...both are easily possible, and even plausible. Watching the movie gives you a certain feeling of dread, considering how such a disease may already exist...or someday could. The cast is decent, and the ending leaves a potential third movie wide open.

All in all, a movie as good as the original (a rare thing indeed). A definite one to watch...if you can handle it.

Review - Knowing

"Knowing" is a science-fiction movie with an unusual twist. Nicolas Cage plays a tormented MIT astrophysics professor who lost his wife in a tragic hotel fire. He muddles through his existance (mostly with the assistance of alcohol). But his life changes drastically when his son receives an unusual note from a school time capsule. Fifty years ago, a young woman frantically scribbled numbers onto a piece of paper. In doing so, she chronicled every major disaster for the next fifty years...perfectly. Now, he must discover what the last three predictions are...before it is too late.

This was a good movie that could have been a great movie. Unfortunately, a bizarre plot twist takes what could have been great...and diminishes it. The characters in the movie are decent enough, but it's actually difficult to feel any true sympathy for them.

Good, but not great. Worth a rent, but not much past that.

Review - The Taking Of Pelham 123

"The Taking Of Pelham 123" is a remake of a novel by John Godey. The original was made in 1974 and starred Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Hector Elizondo, Earl Hindman, and Lee Wallace. The premise remains the same - four armed men hijack a New York City subway train. Their only contact with the outside world is Walter Garber (played by Denzel Washington), a NYC Transit official. The gang's leader, Ryder (played by John Travolta), gives him an ultimatum - ten million dollars in one hour...or hostages will be excecuted.

As usual, Washington and Travolta turn in excellent performances. Washington's Garber is a man facing demons of his own...and is now faced with huge responsibility. Travolta plays Ryder with his usual manic flair...but like Garber, there is more to him than there appears. An excellent supporting cast includes Luis Guzman, John Turturro, and James Gandolfini as the Mayor of New York (nice to see Tony Soprano found work after the mob!).

You would like to learn a little more about some of the characters in the story...but they do fill you in on just enough that you don't leave the theater scratching your head in confusion. The original was good...but I actually believe this was better. And yes...I did see the original!!!

A tense thrill-ride from start to finish, don't miss the train for "Pelham 123".

Review - Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

The Transformers return in spectacular fashion in the big-budget sequel to the 2007 mega-blockbuster. Sam Witwicky is preparing to go off to college, while Mikaela is running her family's auto shop. The Autobots are helping the US Government hunt down the remaining Decepticons. However...one of the Decepticons leaves a warning...about the return of the Fallen.

This is everything you want a summer movie to be - big, loud, and over the top. The action comes early and often, and all the familiar faces return...including a few new Transformers. These include Mudflap and Skids (a pair of jive-talking Autobots), Arcee (who changes into three separate motorcycles), Soundwave (the Decepticon communications master), and Jetfire (an old Decepticon who changed sides...and now uses a cane to get around).

Some of the comic moments are a little forced, and I may not be alone in saying that I enjoyed watching Shia LeBeouf getting hunted down by the Decepticons. Is there any possible way he could be left out of the sequel? Oh, yeah...Transformers 3 is scheduled for a 2012 release.

Not quite as good as the original...but still, definitely worth the trip to the theater! Once again, "Transformers" delivers!

Three Best Of - John Hughes

Few filmmakers have been as associated with a decade as John Hughes has with the 1980's. He has been a screenwriter (with almost forty films to his credit), a producer, a director, a soundtrack writer, and even an actor in three movies. His teenage comedy/dramas are among some of the most remembered movies of the time. Since Hughes only directed eight movies, I will take into account his writing/producing credits as well. On that note, without further adieu, the three best movies of John Hughes:

1 - The Breakfast Club (1985) "Breakfast Club", the nickname for Saturday morning detention, was Hughes' first movie as a producer. It was his second turn as a director, and his sixth screenwriting credit. The story of five teenagers at a suburban Chicago high school from five completely different cliques is still considered one of the best teen movies ever. There are lots of laughs for sure (mostly at the expense of Principal Vernon, played brilliantly by the late Paul Gleason), but there are also some very serious moments as well.

2 - Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) Take two comic geniuses (Steve Martin and John Candy), place them in a never-ending series of disasters, and watch the sparks fly! When a stuffy businessman attempts to get from New York to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving dinner, he is aided and thwarted simultaneously by a boorish shower curtain ring salesman. The pair are forced to work together, despite a continuous string of misadventures. Martin's "f-bomb" tirade to the car rental clerk, and Candy's declaration of "We'd have more luck playing pick-up sticks with our butt cheeks" are just two of the hilarious moments.

3 - Ferris Buellar's Day Off (1986) While "Home Alone" is arguably Hughes' biggest-grossing movie (he produced and wrote the screenplay for it), "Ferris Buellar's Day Off" is the movie that most fans will always remember him for. The grand tale of a high school slacker taking a sick day with his best friend and girlfriend, all while making a right fool of Principal Ed Rooney, is a classic story. Matthew Broderick brings humor and insight to the wiser than his years Buellar, and breaks the fourth wall constantly throughout the picture. A who's-who supporting cast (which includes Kristy Swanson, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Ben Stein, and Hughes regular Edie McClurg) only adds to the delight.

But that's just my opinion...

Honorable Mention - "Sixteen Candles", "Weird Science", the first three "National Lampoon Vacation" movies.