5.72 - The One with the great Summer '09 Movie Review

Here are my reviews of the summer movie blockbuster season. It was quite an eventful season starting with the leaked work-print of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which I think boosted ticket sales...to a remake of Star Trek, a sequel to Transformers and ending off with another 80's cartoon/toy movie: GI Joe. Now since I have a deal with my wife that I pick a movie, and she picks a movie...we've seen quite a number of movies. I'll try not spoil any movies...

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

The origin story of one of the most popular X-Men was much much better that the 3rd installment of the X-Men trilogy. By bringing back Hugh Jackman to play Wolverine made this movie. To think that they had cast Dougray Scott (the baddie from MI:II) originally for the X-Men movies as Wolvie, but had to drop out due to scheduling was a blessing in disguise. Jackman was born to play Wolverine. The story was loosely based on the comic origin, but they brought in elements that really had nothing to do with Wolverine. What they did to Ryan Reynolds Deadpool was ridiculous. Reynolds did well for what it was. He's the perfect guy to play the "Merc with the mouth", but what they did to the character was stupid. This movie was a good way to start the summer.

3 1/2 stars out of 5


Ghosts of Girlfriends Past

The first chick flick of the summer. Another Matthew McConaughey chick flick, and I believe Jennifer Garner's first film in a long long time. Story is based on "A Christmas Carol" with McConaughey playing the "Scrooge" type character. The twist is that he is a womanizer who gets "haunted" by his girlfriends past during the weekend of his brother's wedding. Pretty typical chick flick with some funny parts.

2 stars out of 5


Star Trek

Probably one of the most anticipated movie of the year. JJ Abram's knocks this one out of the park. A re-imagining of the original Star Trek, it tells story of the USS Enterprise's first mission. The casting of the original characters was very well done. It's hard to imagine anyone other that William Shatner playing Kirk, but Chris Pine does a pretty good job. "Hero's" Zachary Quinto does an amazing job as the new Spock. The lens-flare effect was a little over done...but this was THE best Star Trek movie yet.

4 1/2 stars out of 5


Terminator Salvation

Terminator #4...better than #3. They cast another John Connor in Christian Bale. This movie happens after Judgment Day with John Connor leading the Resistance against Skynet and all the Terminators. It was a good popcorn flick, but nothing that memorable. They did have a "cameo" of Arnold as the newest model of Terminator. I guess they had scans of his face when he was younger and they put that over the body double that was actually on screen. I heard that they are planning on doing a 5th Terminator...

2 1/2 stars out of 5


Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Ben Stiller and his gang from the NYC Museum of Natural History return, but this time they are wrecking havoc at Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian Institute. Hank Azaria is added to the cast an evil Pharaoh with a lisp, and Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart. This movie actually makes me want to take a trip down to DC to check out the Smithsonian. This movie is not as good as the first...but still fun at times.

1 1/2 stars out of 5


Up

Wow...Pixar has done it again. Every movie they put out is simply amazing, and they get better and better. Although this one dealt with a lot more human emotion than the others. They story has 78-year old Carl, a retired balloon salesman taking his house to South America...by air. Joining him is 8-year old Russell, making for some great comedy. I think this movie by far has to be one of my favourites this year. The short film attached to the beginning was very good as well.

4 1/2 stars out of 5


The Hangover

By far, the best comedy of the year. 4 friends take Vegas by storm during a bachelor party, but can't remember anything in the morning. To make things worse, they lose the groom in the process. The on-screen chemistry of Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis was great, and a cameo from Mike Tyson was just simply hilarious. It reminded me a lot of Dude, Where's My Car?

4 stars out of 5


Year One

Jack Black and Michael Cera are a couple of hunter/gathers at the beginnings of human civilization and through stupid events, they make it out of their village into a bustling metropolis. It's a pretty stupid movie and at times sacrilegious. Cera's mellow approach to everything compliments Black's way over the top humour. There are some funny parts, but not enough to want to watch a second time. If you've seen the trailer...you've seen the movie.

2 starts out of 5


The Proposal

What happens when you don't pay attention to your work visa? You get deported. Oh wait...I have an assistant that will do anything I want...so I'm going to marry him to stay in the country. Then we'll divorce after a couple years. To sell this we need to go to his family's estate in...Alaska. Uh oh...his family is so great...I can't do this to them. I'll face the music and be deported. Oh ya...I've fallen in love with my assistant too...opps.

3 stars out of 5...only cuz Ryan Reynolds is hilarious. He gets 2 stars.


Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

I was pretty hyped for this movie. That being said, I'm a huge Transformers fan so I'm a little biased. This is a typical Michael Bay movie. Awesome action, explosions, and camera angles. Bay may never win an Oscar, but his style is fast and fun. But as a movie...its not so great. I think it ran about 40 minutes too long. 90% action, 10% story, 100% Michael Bay.

3 stars out of 5


Funny People

By having Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen in a movie, you'd think that it would be a hilarious comedy. Also having the title of the movie as "Funny People", you'd think it would be an amazing comedy. Not so much. This movie was more a drama with some funny moments. I'm not saying its a bad movie, I really enjoyed it. It was pretty heavy at times...and a little long too. If you see it, go in thinking drama.

3 1/2 stars out of 5


G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Yo Joe! If you were going to make a movie based on a toy line and an 80's cartoon...this is how you do it. Complete with the cheesey plot, lines, and special effects. The casting in this movie was very very good. Paramount didn't allow any press to screen the movie because they didn't want negative reviews. I went into with zero expectations and I was pleasantly surprised at it. It really brought me back to my childhood. The couple catch phrases like "Yo Joe!" and "Knowing is half the battle" were stuck in for good measure.

3 stars out of 5

5.59 - The One with the 80's movies

2 of the movie that I am most excited for this summer are Transformers 2 & GI Joe. The first Transformers movie was pretty good...so I have high expectations for the sequel. GI Joe on the other hand...I really have no expectations for. It has the potential to be really bad movie. But I'm excited because its a throwback to my childhood, where Transformers, GI Joe and Lego reigned.

Check out the new trailers for them:

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen



GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra



[via Trailer Addict]

5.05 - The One with the Tropic Thunder

Finally got my new home theater set up...and it sounds really good. I'm pretty happy with what I got, and I'm sure I'll get a few knocks on the door asking me to turn down the volume cuz it's too loud. They're all just jealous of it...

Naomi and I saw Tropic Thunder over the weekend...and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. I went in expecting it was going to be stupid humour...which there was lots of...but Ben Stiller pulled it off and I enjoyed it. Tom Cruise was barely recognizable in it...and he did a great job...almost makes me want to convert to Scientology. Ok maybe not...

Picked up Rock Band 2 yesterday...new Star Wars: The Force Unleashed comes out Tuesday, Lego Batman next week...you might not see me for awhile...

4.79 - The One with Sam's

oh...I'm so tired...I need to go back to bed...but nope....Monday morning has rolled around and work needs to be done. Oh well...maybe I'll go to bed earlier tonight...

My brother and I checked out The Incredible Hulk movie this weekend. Not to be confused with the previous Hollywood version of The Hulk that completely bombed and was horrible. This one was actually pretty good My favourite part was when The Hulk was fighting the big bad guy on the streets of what was supposed to be NYC (shot in Toronto). You could clearly see the Sam the Record Man flagship store all lit up. It was a nice tribute to the store that had been a landmark in the city.

4.70 - The One with the fall

Did you catch game one of the Stanley Cup finals last night? My Red Wings handed it to the Pens 4-0. One win down...three to go. The funniest moment came just as the Penguins were coming out of the dressing room for the pre-game and the goalie, Marc Andre Fleury ran out onto the ice and just ate it. His pad caught the door and he faceplanted into the ice. Not a great start for the Pens. Imagine if he got hurt? That would be even more embarrasing. Check out the video:



via [Detroit Free Press]

Also checked out the new Indiana Jones movie yesterday. It was really good for the most part. I won't spoil it, you'll have to watch it for yourself...but it was great to see Harrison Ford put the fedora and whip back on. Next up...The Dark Knight...can't wait

4.58 - The One with the hills of snow

The summer movie season has officially been kicked off with this weekends release of Iron Man. I was pretty excited to see this movie and it did not disappoint. I wasn't sure how Jon Favreau (Monica's UFC millionaire boyfriend on Friends) would be as a director, although he did direct Elf and Zathura. He did great and even had a cameo. They also showed the new trailers for Indiana Jones, and The Dark Knight. I can't wait to see those two movies...they look really good.

We were in Montreal this weekend and it's been awhile since I've been in Quebec (Hull doesn't count). Wow can you ever notice the difference between Ontario and Quebec. I don't mean the French everywhere...I mean the road conditions. The 401 is a nice smooth ride throughout until it turns into the #20 highway. It's full of pot holes and it's not so fun to drive on anymore. Oh and the gas prices? OUCH...134.9 per liter.

But I think one of the most incredible things that I saw in Montreal were the huge mounds of dirt that were piled up beside the highway. They were at least a few storeys high, Upon closer inspection we saw some white underneath...it was definitely snow. I knew we had a lot of snow fall this winter...but those mounds...no I'd say hills, show how much they got.