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!