Review - Terminator: Salvation

The much-anticipated sequel to the first three "Terminator" movies finally arrives! John Connor, now an adult, fights a losing war against Skynet and the machines it controls. The human resistance finally catches a break with a discovered tool that stops the machines in their tracks. But the sudden appearance of a mysterious figure...as well as the capture of John's father, Kyle Reese, complicates matters.
I find it unusual that of all the "Terminator" movies to get a PG-13 rating...they chose this one. I think that this is the one movie of the series that needed an R rating the most. The visions of the future from the first two movies compared to this one seem to have changed drastically as well. In the first movie, mankind was living underground like moles, starving and filthy, poorly equipped. Suddenly, they have planes, helicopters, and a small arsenal at their disposal (including nuclear submarines).
While there is a great deal to nitpick with this movie...there is no denying that it is a far better movie than the third installment (although that isn't saying much). I would even go as far as to put it close to the second movie...but nothing will ever touch the greatness of the original.
In summary - good story, good acting, lots of action. Definitely worth the trip to the theater.

Review - X-Men Origins - Wolverine

Everyone knows the man. The cigar-smoking, metal-laced, berserker mutant known to some as Logan...and to everyone as Wolverine. In the first big movie of the summer, we explore the background of how Logan became what we know him as today.
This movie spans a great deal of time quickly before the opening credits are through. From Logan's childhood in Canada, to stints in every major war from the Civil War to Vietnam, and finally, Logan's leaving a top-secret military group which features fellow mutants Sabretooth (half-brother Victor Creed), John Wraith, Agent Zero, and Deadpool. We see how Logan has the one true love of his life taken from him...and his joining the now-infamous Weapon X program to avenge her.
On some levels, this movie succeeds greatly. We finally get to see Gambit (played excellently by Taylor Kitsch). Liev Schreiber gives a much better performance as the sadistic Sabretooth, and of course, Hugh Jackman turns in another great turn as Logan. The big problem here is...it's the classic case of Hollywood hype fallen short. As great as this movie could have been, it just wasn't what we were promised. Ideally, this should have been two separate movies (the first one could have lead up to Logan joining Weapon X, the second finishing off the story).
All in all, good, but could have been much better. Decent start to summer 2009.

Review - Cloverfield

"Cloverfield" is a most unusual and heavily hyped sci-fi movie. It takes place over a couple of days in New York City. We begin the movie with a going-away party for a young man who is moving to Japan for a new job. Suddenly, all hell breaks loose. Things begin to explode, people begin to panic...and the characters find themselves in a race against time...and something else.
This movie had been previewed for months...with very little information given about the movie itself. In the back of my mind, I started wondering, "Am I witnessing another "Snakes On A Plane"...or will this movie actually live up to the hype?" The short answer...kind of. Imagine if the people who shot "The Blair Witch Project" made "Godzilla". You now have a pretty decent idea on what "Cloverfield" was like.
I liked the idea of the first-person perspective on the movie...and how there was still interaction between the characters and the surroundings. However...there were times where another characters perspective would have been appreciated. And it leaves the movie-goer with many questions about what actually happened.
All in all...not a great movie...but a good one. The characters were likeable and well played, the story moved along well, and unlike "I Am Legend", the special effects were a lot better.

Review - National Treasure: Book Of Secrets

I was a big fan of the first National Treasure movie, and thus I was quite enthused when word of a sequel reached my ears. And I'm glad to say, that the sophomore jinx didn't hit Book Of Secrets.
The movie is enough that you didn't have to see the original to follow this story...as a matter of fact, this movie barely makes any reference to the original (quite an unusual turn of events). Ben Gates' great-great grandfather has been presented as a possible co-conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. With the assistance of his father, his sidekick Riley, his estranged girlfriend Abigail, and his mother Emily...Ben goes off on another incredible search to protect his family name.
There are some excellent performances in the movie...and with a cast that includes Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Ed Harris, and Helen Mirren, that is pretty much a foregone conclusion. The story is entertaining, and carries on at a good pace. The ending of the story almost guaranteed a sequel.
All in all, an excellent movie!

Review - I Am Legend

I'll admit it...when I first saw the trailers...I was intrigued. I had already rented an earlier version of this movie off Netflix (The Omega Man, with Charlton Heston in the title role). Still, I put off seeing this movie.
It wasn't terrible. Granted...we've come to expect so much better from Will Smith...but it wasn't entirely Will's fault this time around. The special effects for such a big-budget film were not very impressive. In fact, they were quite underwhelming. The story is about the same as Omega Man - a military scientist is the last man alive in New York City after a man-made disease wipes out the majority of the human race. Most of those unaffected by the disease are now more animal than human...unable to tolerate sunlight (or any bright light for that matter). It is interesting to see how a person would stand being the only person left on Earth...and what it might do to their psychological state.
Decent characters...decent story...bad special effects. I Am Legend isn't the best movie you could spend money to go see...but it isn't the worst, either.

My Two Cents - Summer '07 In Review

Well...I can finally say...it was a good summer for movies. Thankfully...considering what a dud 2006 turned out to be. I will say...there were some disappointments (the most notable of which was "Spider-Man 3"), but I would have to say that the movie as a whole was a good one. There were more hits than misses. And now, to quickly review my earlier post of my most anticipated releases of the summer...and update how I felt about them.
First and foremost, I must say that I did not get a chance to see "1408" or "28 Weeks Later". I do plan to rent "1408" on Netflix...and I will let you know what I thought after that. That being said, let's continue.
"Spider-Man 3"...I already reviewed it...but here it is again. VERY disappointing. Easily the biggest let-down of the entire summer. Should have been WAY better than it actually was.
"Live Free Or Die Hard"...I was expecting it to be good. I was amazed at how awesome it really was!!! Bruce Willis just keeps getting better every time he plays John McClane...and this time out was great! Excellent supporting cast, good story...and loads of action and witty one-liners. In other words, everything we come to expect from a "Die Hard" movie.
"Transformers"...what can I say besides..."When does the sequel come out!!!!!!!!!" Hands down, no contest, the best movie of the summer!!! Everything I anticipated and then some!!!
"Pirates Of The Carribean - At World's End"...I am of the opinion that "Pirates Of The Carribean - Dead Man's Chest" was not a very good movie. So...I went into this one not expecting much. Thankfully...they redeemed themselves. "At World's End" was a perfect third chapter. It tied up all the loose ends from the first two movies...but left the door just wide open enough for the possibility of a fourth movie.
"The Bourne Ultimatum"...Easily as good as the first movie. Robert Ludlum needs to write more Bourne books!!!
"Fantastic Four - Rise Of The Silver Surfer"...I was a little underwhelmed with Galactus...but a small nit to pick. Otherwise, a strong sequel for an under-rated film.
"Ocean's Thirteen"...Like "At World's End", I was disappointed with the second movie of the "Ocean" series. And again...they managed to redeem themselves somewhat. It still wasn't as good as the first one...but this one was better than the second one.
"Resident Evil - Extinction"...Not as good as the first two, but still an entertaining movie.
Of course...that's just my opinion...

My Two Cents - Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Hey, all y'all!!!

OK...I know I haven't posted in quite some time. I may never grow tired of movies...but I'm afraid I did hit a dry spell for posting to the blog. However...have no fear, for I have returned! And I've got a ton of stuff to talk about, too!!!