Starring: a bunch of famous people and the King Of Pop.
Directed By Kenny Ortega
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1477715/
It would have been a heck of a show. No one could sanely try and deny that. Michael Jackson was going to take with him to London's O2 Arena a crack band, a squadron of dancers and background singers, aerialists and pole dancing experts, elevators, a cherry picker, possibly a bulldozer, and enough fireworks to make KISS blush.
Apparently a Norwegian scientist had been brought in to help wardrobe work out a problem. Hard drives worth of new video -- movies, actually -- were shot. There was going to be a black-and-white shootout between Jackson and Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart. The all-new "Thriller" scenes were to be in 3D.
It would have been a heck of a show -- one obviously designed by Jackson and the creative and business to team to remove him from the spectacle of his life and place him once again within the spectacle of his art.
And of course it never happened.
We know how "This Is It" ends.
Hastily assembled after Jackson's death in June, the film cobbles together rehearsal and behind-the-scenes footage as the gang prepares to ship to London for 50 sold out shows. Early stories about the movie were right: It's not a concert film, and it's not a documentary. It's a rehearsal film.
Jackson is engaged and exacting when it comes to the music. He looks as good as Michael Jackson could look, and far more spry and energetic than you'd expect from a guy who needed anesthesia to sleep. But the movie tries to do what the show would have: make you forget the tabloid Jackson, but knowing the ending, it's hard.
A documentary would have been a better historical document than a rehearsal film -- unless you're a big fan. If that's the case, you'll love "This Is It." If you're not, it's like watching band practice.
I guess if MJ was an Idol to you, it might come as a major let down.
Overall Rating (*)
Mr. What?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saw VI ( 2009 )
Starring: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, & Shawnee Smith
Directed by Kevin Greutert
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233227/
I'm not even going to give a fuck about this review. It's another Saw movie. Once again for the sixth year in a row We get a Saw movie for Halloween. Oh wait, Halloween is THIS Saturday, but wasn't Saw VI released Friday the 23rd?!?!?!? Yeah, kinda fucking lame Huh? This time it's so commercial that we have a reality tv winner playing a semi lead role. I really hope this is the last one, but have some inside info that we might have 2 more....
Soooooo here is the basic plot...Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood. I actually thought at some point they would bring back The DR. from the first one, but I guess that would be too lame.... Also, why drag this out anymore? Leaving it at the 3rd movie was the logical choice, not stretching it out for at least 3 more movies.....
For those Torture Porn fans though, this is a great movie. The same traps, Gore, and bondage feel are still there, but turned up a notch. At times I caught myself going "OH FUCK!", so at least that element is still there. I guess I'm just a little bent over the constant milking of this franchise. I love the excessive blood and carnage, but making this many movies about the same thing is getting a little too close to the classics of the 80's and 90's......And no offense to any Saw fan, but this garbage DOES NOT rate to any Freddy, Jason, Michael, or Chucky. Let the franchise die with some dignity.
Overall Rating ( * * )
Mr. What?
Directed by Kevin Greutert
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233227/
I'm not even going to give a fuck about this review. It's another Saw movie. Once again for the sixth year in a row We get a Saw movie for Halloween. Oh wait, Halloween is THIS Saturday, but wasn't Saw VI released Friday the 23rd?!?!?!? Yeah, kinda fucking lame Huh? This time it's so commercial that we have a reality tv winner playing a semi lead role. I really hope this is the last one, but have some inside info that we might have 2 more....
Soooooo here is the basic plot...Special Agent Strahm is dead, and Detective Hoffman has emerged as the unchallenged successor to Jigsaw's legacy. However, when the FBI draws closer to Hoffman, he is forced to set a game into motion, and Jigsaw's grand scheme is finally understood. I actually thought at some point they would bring back The DR. from the first one, but I guess that would be too lame.... Also, why drag this out anymore? Leaving it at the 3rd movie was the logical choice, not stretching it out for at least 3 more movies.....
For those Torture Porn fans though, this is a great movie. The same traps, Gore, and bondage feel are still there, but turned up a notch. At times I caught myself going "OH FUCK!", so at least that element is still there. I guess I'm just a little bent over the constant milking of this franchise. I love the excessive blood and carnage, but making this many movies about the same thing is getting a little too close to the classics of the 80's and 90's......And no offense to any Saw fan, but this garbage DOES NOT rate to any Freddy, Jason, Michael, or Chucky. Let the franchise die with some dignity.
Overall Rating ( * * )
Mr. What?
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Paranormal Activity ( 2009 )
Starring: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, & Mark fredrichs
Directed By Oren Peli
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/
Yep. I liked it. All of the hype paid off. Because I live in Montana, we didn’t get PA until Friday, and man it was worth the wait. I read a lot of mixed reviews about how lame it was, how scary it was, and was it real. If you like Cannibal Holocaust, or the Blair Witch Project….well then go see this movie. PA had a real feel for chaos as the movie went along, and I can only hope that some of you can see it on the big screen.
So our story follows a young couple who have decided to film what goes on in the night while they sleep…. The camera is just a single shot deal. What it see’s we see. At first it’s just Katie and Micah sleeping with some footsteps here or there, but as the night goes on so does the noises. After Micah and Katie review days of strang noises and sights they call upon a Psychic for help. The Psychic tells them that it might be a demon in the house and to avoid all hostile vibes, because that could only provoke whatevers there.
As the days go by the haunts and sounds get more intense and we as the viewer witness some bizarre footage. I did like how as the days kept going, the fights between Katie and Micah become more foul foulmouthed and angry. Which (as you can guess) results in more extreme things happening. Watching Katie wake up and stand over the bed for hours (of elapsed time) staring at Micah while he slept, seeing weird footprints walk across the bedroom floor,or watching Katie getting dragged off of the bed screaming, creeped me the fuck out.
Look lets be honest, this has been done before. Nothing new here, but dammit it was a fun flick! I also loved the Marketing for PA. Get a million demands and the movie goes nationwide. God, if only we the viewers were given that opportunity with other movies it would be a new era in movie viewing. Oh and before I forget……. If you are going to see this movie, go to an early showing. Anything after 6 PM will only bring out the idiots who will ruin it for you.
Overall Rating ( * * * * )
Mr. What?
Directed By Oren Peli
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1179904/
Yep. I liked it. All of the hype paid off. Because I live in Montana, we didn’t get PA until Friday, and man it was worth the wait. I read a lot of mixed reviews about how lame it was, how scary it was, and was it real. If you like Cannibal Holocaust, or the Blair Witch Project….well then go see this movie. PA had a real feel for chaos as the movie went along, and I can only hope that some of you can see it on the big screen.
So our story follows a young couple who have decided to film what goes on in the night while they sleep…. The camera is just a single shot deal. What it see’s we see. At first it’s just Katie and Micah sleeping with some footsteps here or there, but as the night goes on so does the noises. After Micah and Katie review days of strang noises and sights they call upon a Psychic for help. The Psychic tells them that it might be a demon in the house and to avoid all hostile vibes, because that could only provoke whatevers there.
As the days go by the haunts and sounds get more intense and we as the viewer witness some bizarre footage. I did like how as the days kept going, the fights between Katie and Micah become more foul foulmouthed and angry. Which (as you can guess) results in more extreme things happening. Watching Katie wake up and stand over the bed for hours (of elapsed time) staring at Micah while he slept, seeing weird footprints walk across the bedroom floor,or watching Katie getting dragged off of the bed screaming, creeped me the fuck out.
Look lets be honest, this has been done before. Nothing new here, but dammit it was a fun flick! I also loved the Marketing for PA. Get a million demands and the movie goes nationwide. God, if only we the viewers were given that opportunity with other movies it would be a new era in movie viewing. Oh and before I forget……. If you are going to see this movie, go to an early showing. Anything after 6 PM will only bring out the idiots who will ruin it for you.
Overall Rating ( * * * * )
Mr. What?
Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Starring: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Colm Meaney, & Bruce McGill
Directed by F. Gary Gray
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197624/
What an Awesome flick with a total fucking letdown ending. Everything about LAC was awesome. The plot, the action, & the suspense were top notch, except the ending. Gerard Butler was once again solid in acting, and for once I was impressed with Jamie Foxx, but the ending totally fucked with me. So for a solid date movie, or a good buddy flick I say go see this!!!
OK so on to the review……..Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) is a brilliant planner and inventor. One night two robbers invade his Philadelphia home and brutally kill his wife and daughter, and almost kill him. The killers are caught, and Assistant DA Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) is assigned the case. Nick is ordered by the DA to make a deal with one of the killers to testify against his partner for a 10 year plea bargain prison sentence. Clyde doesn't want Nick to make the deal, but Nick says it was too late and the deal is done. The other killer got the death penalty. After 10 years, the other killer is released from prison, and he soon ends up dead. Clyde is arrested and kind of admits to Nick that he did it. Clyde is put in jail, and he warns Nick that he must fix the broken justice system that failed him and his family or else anyone connected to his case will soon die. Even from jail, Clyde's threats become a reality, and Nick must stop Clyde before his family is next.
Yeah I really liked this movie, but like I said the end kinda threw me. It had one of those Horror Movie endings where the “bad guy” dies and the Hero lives no matter how corrupt he or she is. Maybe it was Grays way of showing some sort of Humanity to a scum bag like Nick Rice, but it was totally weak, and kinda brought down a solid homerun movie for everybody.
All in all LAC was a fun romp. If you liked The movie Four Brothers, then you will totally dig this.
Overall rating ( * * * * )
Mr. What?
Directed by F. Gary Gray
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197624/
What an Awesome flick with a total fucking letdown ending. Everything about LAC was awesome. The plot, the action, & the suspense were top notch, except the ending. Gerard Butler was once again solid in acting, and for once I was impressed with Jamie Foxx, but the ending totally fucked with me. So for a solid date movie, or a good buddy flick I say go see this!!!
OK so on to the review……..Clyde Shelton (Gerard Butler) is a brilliant planner and inventor. One night two robbers invade his Philadelphia home and brutally kill his wife and daughter, and almost kill him. The killers are caught, and Assistant DA Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx) is assigned the case. Nick is ordered by the DA to make a deal with one of the killers to testify against his partner for a 10 year plea bargain prison sentence. Clyde doesn't want Nick to make the deal, but Nick says it was too late and the deal is done. The other killer got the death penalty. After 10 years, the other killer is released from prison, and he soon ends up dead. Clyde is arrested and kind of admits to Nick that he did it. Clyde is put in jail, and he warns Nick that he must fix the broken justice system that failed him and his family or else anyone connected to his case will soon die. Even from jail, Clyde's threats become a reality, and Nick must stop Clyde before his family is next.
Yeah I really liked this movie, but like I said the end kinda threw me. It had one of those Horror Movie endings where the “bad guy” dies and the Hero lives no matter how corrupt he or she is. Maybe it was Grays way of showing some sort of Humanity to a scum bag like Nick Rice, but it was totally weak, and kinda brought down a solid homerun movie for everybody.
All in all LAC was a fun romp. If you liked The movie Four Brothers, then you will totally dig this.
Overall rating ( * * * * )
Mr. What?
Friday, October 2, 2009
Whip It ( 2009 )
Starring: Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Ali Shawkat, Sarah Habel, & Shannon Eagen
Written by Shauna Cross
Directed by Drew Barrymore
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172233/
SOOOOOOOOO What happens when an actress losing her shine decides to direct a movie? The result is Whip It. I for one thought it sucked. Not because of the story, or acting, but the direction and some shots just fell flat. It reminded me of a pg-13 version of Rollerball. Yeah, A lot of us know about the Womens Rollerball league and the history on that, but this version just seems to be way too much bubble gum and Revlon color stay. If Miss Drew really wanted to make this an epic smash, she would’ve made this a very hard PG-13. I felt that with a touch more of adult content this film would’ve gotten a solid 4 stars.
So our story goes as this……In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit ( Page ) finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin. AWWWWWWWW so little miss EX- Pagent Contestant in a small town now wants to throw elbows, sweat, Roller skate, and feel all adult. Good God Thankfully I’m not Diabetic, or I would’ve gone into shock in my seat. Really? This movie is nothing more than a chance for Ellen Page to shed the Juno tag, and nothing else. I felt that as a film reviewer my mind had turned to baby shit and was leaking outta my ears.
If you’re a Parent and want to treat your kid to a semi chucked up movie, then this would be for you. My other complaint is Miss Drew’s constant attention to the 1970’s. Charlies Angels was OK for a Late 90’s summer blockbuster. But it’s 10 years later, and a lot of the world really doesn’t care to see yet another disgruntled Indie kid trying to make it in the world full of catch phrases and snarky attitude. In all I would sum it up by saying this movie was an Epic FAIL, but was funny to see Juno get put on her ass…..Where’s Bleaker now when you need him Juno?
Overall Rating ( * ½ )
Mr. What?
Written by Shauna Cross
Directed by Drew Barrymore
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172233/
SOOOOOOOOO What happens when an actress losing her shine decides to direct a movie? The result is Whip It. I for one thought it sucked. Not because of the story, or acting, but the direction and some shots just fell flat. It reminded me of a pg-13 version of Rollerball. Yeah, A lot of us know about the Womens Rollerball league and the history on that, but this version just seems to be way too much bubble gum and Revlon color stay. If Miss Drew really wanted to make this an epic smash, she would’ve made this a very hard PG-13. I felt that with a touch more of adult content this film would’ve gotten a solid 4 stars.
So our story goes as this……In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit ( Page ) finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin. AWWWWWWWW so little miss EX- Pagent Contestant in a small town now wants to throw elbows, sweat, Roller skate, and feel all adult. Good God Thankfully I’m not Diabetic, or I would’ve gone into shock in my seat. Really? This movie is nothing more than a chance for Ellen Page to shed the Juno tag, and nothing else. I felt that as a film reviewer my mind had turned to baby shit and was leaking outta my ears.
If you’re a Parent and want to treat your kid to a semi chucked up movie, then this would be for you. My other complaint is Miss Drew’s constant attention to the 1970’s. Charlies Angels was OK for a Late 90’s summer blockbuster. But it’s 10 years later, and a lot of the world really doesn’t care to see yet another disgruntled Indie kid trying to make it in the world full of catch phrases and snarky attitude. In all I would sum it up by saying this movie was an Epic FAIL, but was funny to see Juno get put on her ass…..Where’s Bleaker now when you need him Juno?
Overall Rating ( * ½ )
Mr. What?
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