Whatever Works

6/16/09

Whatever Works is the newest Woody Allen film with the great Larry David playing his Allen's alter ego. I personally really like Larry David and the vast majority of Allen's "newer" movies, so this movie was right up my alley. The basis of this film is the collision of a lifetime pessimist "genius" (David) and an unlikely new roomate, the very young Melanie (Evan Rachel Wood). Boris Yellnikoff has a philosophy that things may not always make sense, but whatever works...A few other positive chance incidences follow in this movie mixed in with a few funny lines, makes this movie a decent view. No rushing to the theater, but it will give you a good HBO night later in the year.

The Hangover

June 2, 2009

Attended a screening of this movie a few weeks back, and was not disappointed. The Hangover is a funny comedy about a bachelor party road trip to Vegas that goes terribly awry. The guys have some fun the first night they are there, however, once the partying has stopped, they wake up with no memory of what has happened, and no clue of the bachelor's whereabouts. Of course in movie world, the wedding is that next night; panic sets in and the movie begins...While this movie definitely works on some levels; to me, not enough of the main characters had great comedic qualities. I personally think Ed Helms plays a better character in The Office than during this movie. Zach Galifianakis is the obvious star in this film based on his bearish look and lines he is given, and I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more from him. I personally think that this film is a notch below the other "new edgy" comedies that have been released over the past couple of years. The majority consensus seems to rate this movie as greatness, however, the jury is still out for me. I need to see the film again. And I will.

Terminator Salvation

5/21/09

Terminator Salvation is probably the first bust that I've seen all year. Now it's not a bust in that it was a horrible, horrible movie; it is a bust by simply carrying the Terminator name and not delivering a Terminator quality film. Listen, we all know that the Terminator series is unrealistic; so my question is, how do you make an unrealistic, unrealistic movie? The time sequences were weird (see John Connor jumping into a 10,000 foot wave, and then seconds later is somehow aboard a submarine. Minutes later we find him standing at an airport hanger). There were definitely some great special effects during the film, including a fantastic special guest appearance that I won't begin spoil. I was entertained during this movie about the way I was entertained during Transporter 3. It's just disappointing that this was a movie that should have stayed in its' original class. Wait for the video, only because you have to.