Mission: Impossible III

Mission: Impossible III
So, I was finally able to see the "last" of the Mission Impossible movies tonight. And I'd have to say it was surprisingly good! But what surprised me even more is that the very person who directed MI3 is the producer of the television series "Lost," J.J. Abrams. I think this is why I enjoyed this film so much (although almost any MI movie made after the second one would definitely keep me entertained).

The story is about Ethan Hunt (undoubtedly) and him coming out of “retirement.” He has settled down since the last time we left Ethan Hunt, and is about to get married and start a family. The IMF contacts Ethan and wants him to do one last assignment for them, which involves saving a fellow agent, which uncovers more and more leads. Great action, suspense, and some corny lines get you absorbed into this film.

Tom Cruise plays Ethan Hunt, and his wife in the movie, Julia, is played by Michelle Monaghan. What I really enjoyed was how well Philip Seymour Hoffman played a cold-hearted bad guy in this movie (Owen Davian). It was hard for me to take him seriously at first for his comedic roles prior, but I quickly loved his character. Abrams put together a solid cast that also included, Ving Rhames, Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, both from August Rush, Laurence Fishburne, and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead).

I liked how the movie got me sitting up and nervous, I can’t say that happens to me a lot. Very entertaining. The acting was great, the plot was great, the cast and everything! All around it was a great movie I recommend it.

Mission: Impossible III gets...

4 Stars

The Happening

The Happening
I really hope that this site gets out to people, and I really hope people take my advice and know I rate movies for a reason. You see, I am simply looking out for all of you movie goers! Please heed my warnings, I will save you money!!!

With that being said,
Here is my review of this years flop, M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening.

Weeks before The Happening hit the box office, I saw a couple of teaser trailers and was oddly extremely excited for the film. The discreteness of the trailers really got me wondering. So, on that Friday, Joy and I cruised over to the movie theater to catch a showing.

WHAT A WASTE OF MY TIME, MONEY, AND GAS!

First off, I am a fan of Mark Wahlberg, but his performance in this movie was incredibly awful. The scene that takes place in the classroom was almost excruciating for me to watch. It was full of corny lines, and it was definitely not a typical high school classroom.

Mark Wahlberg plays the part of Elliot Moore, a teacher from Philadelphia who is trying to survive an unknown disease that is becoming an epidemic. The disease is quickly spreading across the north eastern side of the US, killing smaller and smaller groups of people until only a few people are left. M. Night Shyamalan definitely missed on this film. From the start of the movie we are thrown into a situation which seems exciting, I love fast paced movies. But from then on it was the exact opposite it was as though the movie dragged on forever!

SPOILER ALERT

The ONE thing I liked about the movie aside from Zooey Deschanel, was the ironic “life lesson” at the end of the movie. The scene was Mark Wahlberg’s character watching a news report on t.v. about the disease that hit the east coast. A scientist is telling the host that this was just a warning that that it would happen again, and the host does nothing but mock the scientist saying how could it happen again. Which the next scene cuts to two men in France who are talking, and suddenly hear distant screams, and everyone around him is frozen still.

I really wanted to like this movie, and I really thought M. Night Shyamalan wouldn’t let me down again. But I am sad to say that this was only wishful thinking.  But overall DO NOT compare this movie to The Sixth Sense!  You will be even more disappointed!

If I missed something, leave a comment on how you feel, please!

M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening gets…
2 ½ STARS!

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight
So it has been over a week and I am just now reviewing The Dark Knight. The end of that week was so hectic, my head is still spinning from it. But anyways! Lets get down to business!

I was one of the million people to go see The Dark Knight at midnight on the 24th, and luckily I was not one of the few to actually pay $150 for a ticket on Craig's List. But if I did pay that kind of cash for the movie, I would say every penny was worth it. For the first time ever I felt as though I had paid $8 dollars, and got my money's worth. Excited about the buzz  of Heath Ledger's last performance, my friends and I showed up to the theater around 11 o’clock thinking there would be an enormous line, but surprisingly we were wrong. Slowly and slowly people checked in and waited. It was amazing to witness the many people from my small town come see the new Batman movie. By the time it was ready to fill in the theater had opened FOUR screens for the viewing of The Dark Knight.

So there we were, snacking on our smuggled goods, and watching the previews keenly.

The Dark Knight in contrast to Batman Begins, shows the dark side of Batman and the world that is around him. The Joker’s (Heath Ledger) main goal is to bring out the evil in everyone in the city, even those whom we look up to. He manipulates people a multiple times in a way that they do not have a chance but to save themselves before saving a whole group of people. Christian Bale, playing Batman, has two dilemmas throughout the movie: his incompetence to justify himself and what he does, and to save Gotham City from a villain who's purpose isn't money, but the spread pure evil.

I love the cast put together by Christopher Nolan (Director), which were all wonderful performances by Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman and above all Heath Ledger. The one thing that left me a bad feeling was replacement of Katie Holmes with Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes. They do look oddly similar, but I am not fond of Maggie Gyllenhaal as an actor, especially compared to Katie Holmes, or it could simply be that it was a strange cast change for the sequel to Batman Begins. But Christian Bale was, yet again, exceptional in playing the reluctant superhero. And the introduction to a new villain Two Face, played by Aaron Eckhart, got me excited for another sequel!

And lastly,
I am not just saying this because of what the critics say, nor am I jumping on any bandwagon, but Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight is truly amazing. I caught myself the majority of the time focusing on Heath’s character even when he was not the main part of the scene. His character is very creepy and I don’t know how someone can get into character as someone like that. It takes a great actor to be able to accomplish what he did.

I really would recommend the movie to almost all ages from about 8 and up. The movie is not at all totally serious, especially with the Joker's "jokes." I don’t think the darkness of the film will be the focus point for the younger kids. Christopher Nolan succeeded in making a movie that can target all audiences.
So go see it!


The Dark Knight! Easily gets!

5 STARS!

24: Season 1

24: Season 1

Okay,

So I know this is a blog intended to review movies I have seen, new and old.

BUT....

WOW!

I have just finished watching 24 season one and it was brilliant!

The concept of the show 24 is that the sh

ow from start to finish is twenty-four hours; twenty-four episodes, and each episode is exactly one hour.  Thus the show being one full day of Jack Bauer's life. (commercials are even counted in the time.)

Agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) works for a counter terrorist unit based out of Los Angeles.  Jack along with his wife and daughter are in the midst of mending a family issue as the viewers are thrown into the plot.  I will not get into many details because I WANT you to watch this fantastic television show.  

There is an assassination threat on a politician played by Dennis Haysbert at midnight, the day of the presidential primary, and Jack Bauer is assigned to the case.  This starts the countdown.  That same night Jack's daughter Kimberly (Elisha Cuthbert) sneaks out of the house with her friend and fall into the wrong hands of some nasty people.  Jack's wife played by Leslie Hope is left by herself and the other girl's "father" to find their daughter while Jack is at the CTU.  Good agents die, "dirty" agents are introduced, and a 747 explodes all in the first two episodes, and I will say the most most wonderful ending I have seen for a television series.  There is a massive story that is going to unfold, be prepared! 

Kiefer Sutherland won a Golden Globe for best actor for his performance, and the show was nominated for Best Television Series in 2002.

I think this show is a great for a family that has boys above the age of twelve, and any audience over the age of fifteen.  Your boys will be running around with their toy guns and saving the world under the name of Jack Bauer.  As for me I don't play with my toy guns any longer, but the show engulfed me, and at many times my heart was racing, hands were clenched and sweaty; I couldn't stop biting my nails.

I promise you will love it!

I give 24: Season 1...

5 STARS!

The Beginnings!

So here it is! I am about to begin an ongoing blog!

I am going to review and rate movies, and also answer common questions like appropriateness, and many more things one would wonder before deciding on what to watch.  I hope to make it easier to read reviews, and try not to spoil the movie in the process.

Thank You, It should be ready in the coming week.

Chad.