DIRECTOR: Mel Brooks
STUDIO: Warner Bros.
STARRING: Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens
RATING: R
GENRE: Comedy, Western
GRADE: B+
Mel Brooks has done it again! I never cease to laugh, or at least smile, whenever I watch his films. "The Producers"..."Young Frankenstein"..."Robin Hood: Men in Tights"...and now one of his most famous!
Well, obviously I adore the director, but another star that is one of my favorite actors is Gene Wilder. He plays his part beautifully, but it may be just because I'm used to seeing Gene on screen about 80% of the time when I watch a film starring him, that I thought he was hardly in this movie at all.
Almost every joke that was played worked well, and the only ones may just be the generation gap from the '70s to now. My only complaint, which is why it didn't recieve an A grade, is the ending. It felt so forced and random that it led me to be confused. The errors that could be made in just the ending are too many to ignore, so I have to say that if it wasn't for that, it may have been my favorite Mel Brooks film.
Overall, if you've ever enjoyed any film of the simliar genre, you will adore this movie. It's best to watch with a group of people, because then you'll appreciate every joke a bit more.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Movie Facts Thursday!
Every Thursday, I've decided to post 10 interesting facts about films! So, check in at least every Thursday to see what the new trivia is.
The Princess and the Frog (2009) :
1) The star Ray calls "Evangeline" is in fact the planet Venus. Venus is known as the Roman goddess of love.
2) This is Disney's first film in which all of the voice actors do both the speaking and singing parts since Beauty and the Beast (1991).
3) Tiana is on-screen for roughly 40 minutes of the film, 17 of them spent as a human and 23 as a frog.
Across the Universe (2007):
4) All the main characters' names are references to famous Beatle songs. (Hey Jude, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Sexy Sadie, Get Back(Jojo), Dear Prudence, ETC)
5) This film was released in the United States on John Lennon's birthday (October 9th).
6) During "Happiness is a Warm Gun", the dancing priest does the same dance the hippy in "Come Together" does across the crosswalk when he's in the area with the prostitutes.
TITANIC (1997):
7) Rose only says "I love you" to Jack once while they are both shivering in the water. Jack never says it, although he mentions what he loves about her.
8 Most Oscar-nominated film (14) not to win in any acting categories.
9) After finding out that she had to be naked in front of Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet decided to break the ice, and when they first met, she flashed him.
10) When Jack prevents Rose from committing suicide, he shares a story about how he once fell into freezing cold water while ice fishing and how it feels like "being stabbed with a thousand knives all over your body." This was an actual quote from a Titanic survivor describing the temperature of the North Atlantic water.
The Princess and the Frog (2009) :
1) The star Ray calls "Evangeline" is in fact the planet Venus. Venus is known as the Roman goddess of love.
2) This is Disney's first film in which all of the voice actors do both the speaking and singing parts since Beauty and the Beast (1991).
3) Tiana is on-screen for roughly 40 minutes of the film, 17 of them spent as a human and 23 as a frog.
Across the Universe (2007):
4) All the main characters' names are references to famous Beatle songs. (Hey Jude, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Sexy Sadie, Get Back(Jojo), Dear Prudence, ETC)
5) This film was released in the United States on John Lennon's birthday (October 9th).
6) During "Happiness is a Warm Gun", the dancing priest does the same dance the hippy in "Come Together" does across the crosswalk when he's in the area with the prostitutes.
TITANIC (1997):
7) Rose only says "I love you" to Jack once while they are both shivering in the water. Jack never says it, although he mentions what he loves about her.
8 Most Oscar-nominated film (14) not to win in any acting categories.
9) After finding out that she had to be naked in front of Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet decided to break the ice, and when they first met, she flashed him.
10) When Jack prevents Rose from committing suicide, he shares a story about how he once fell into freezing cold water while ice fishing and how it feels like "being stabbed with a thousand knives all over your body." This was an actual quote from a Titanic survivor describing the temperature of the North Atlantic water.
Julie & Julia (2009)
DIRECTOR: Nora Ephron
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures
STARRING: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Biography, Drama
GRADE: B-
I'm definitely a fan of cooking (well, eating mostly) and this movie just sparked my interest in the stories of these two women, who're different, but both have a passion for cooking.
The story itself is a very strong one, but it tends to lag on with both in their own way. I think I might've liked to see more of the cooking itself, than the end product or the disasters. Acting was good, along with the writing, but what they did show of the story seemed a bit more boring than it could have been.
I have to give amazing credit to the set designer, costume designer and cinematographer, because just to watch this film is a treat. To see the beauty of Paris and the details of the food makes this film delicious just to see.
Overall, a decent film, and if you want to spend a night thinking about food and cooking, this one is very interesting. Plus, if you're a fan of Julia Child, then you'll learn much of her life and how she got interested in cooking. B-. No questions asked.
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures
STARRING: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Biography, Drama
GRADE: B-
I'm definitely a fan of cooking (well, eating mostly) and this movie just sparked my interest in the stories of these two women, who're different, but both have a passion for cooking.
The story itself is a very strong one, but it tends to lag on with both in their own way. I think I might've liked to see more of the cooking itself, than the end product or the disasters. Acting was good, along with the writing, but what they did show of the story seemed a bit more boring than it could have been.
I have to give amazing credit to the set designer, costume designer and cinematographer, because just to watch this film is a treat. To see the beauty of Paris and the details of the food makes this film delicious just to see.
Overall, a decent film, and if you want to spend a night thinking about food and cooking, this one is very interesting. Plus, if you're a fan of Julia Child, then you'll learn much of her life and how she got interested in cooking. B-. No questions asked.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
DIRECTOR: David Yates
STUDIO: Warner Bros. Pictures
STARRING: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
GRADE: B+
This is a biased review. I had to say that first because I LOVE the Harry Potter books, and read them all more than once. So, I'm sure it was easier for me to understand what was going on than the average movie-goer. So, onto the review.
This Harry Potter film was definitely the darkest of the previous ones, but it's very fitting. If you go back and look at the first one, it was child-like and happy, while as the characters grew up, the fans grew up with the story. The children who saw the first and second now come to the last few as adults or teenagers.
The director, David Yates, is a very talented guy. Many shots in this movie were filmed flawlessly, but as the film progressed, it got sloppier and sloppier. Especially one of the last action sequences, it was as if they had a little handheld camera and was running beside the actors.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the film and the small jokes that played into it. I will definitely see it again on the big screen, and, as any real Potter fans, see the next installment in 3-D!
STUDIO: Warner Bros. Pictures
STARRING: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
GRADE: B+
This is a biased review. I had to say that first because I LOVE the Harry Potter books, and read them all more than once. So, I'm sure it was easier for me to understand what was going on than the average movie-goer. So, onto the review.
This Harry Potter film was definitely the darkest of the previous ones, but it's very fitting. If you go back and look at the first one, it was child-like and happy, while as the characters grew up, the fans grew up with the story. The children who saw the first and second now come to the last few as adults or teenagers.
The director, David Yates, is a very talented guy. Many shots in this movie were filmed flawlessly, but as the film progressed, it got sloppier and sloppier. Especially one of the last action sequences, it was as if they had a little handheld camera and was running beside the actors.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the film and the small jokes that played into it. I will definitely see it again on the big screen, and, as any real Potter fans, see the next installment in 3-D!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
DIRECTOR: Nora Ephron
STUDIO: TriStar Pictures
STARRING: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Rosie O'Donnell
RATING: PG
GENRE: Comedy, Romance, Drama
GRADE: B-
Ehh...that's all I can really say. Now, I love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan separately. Actually, any work of them I've enjoyed, but together, they just lack chemistry. And maybe that was it. I was expecting AMAZING couples like "When Harry Met Sally..." and "Forrest Gump" and even though they only meet in one scene, I still didn't have the connection that I did with so many other film couples. You could say I'm a "shipper."
But, the cinematographer was outstanding! Just that opening shot, a few seconds in, took my breath away. It was filmed very beautifully and soundly and thought it was some of the best I've seen in years.
It's a very cute date movie and for those that believe in destiny and fate, go out and rent this movie. It's sweet and you'll definitely enjoy it!
STUDIO: TriStar Pictures
STARRING: Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Rosie O'Donnell
RATING: PG
GENRE: Comedy, Romance, Drama
GRADE: B-
Ehh...that's all I can really say. Now, I love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan separately. Actually, any work of them I've enjoyed, but together, they just lack chemistry. And maybe that was it. I was expecting AMAZING couples like "When Harry Met Sally..." and "Forrest Gump" and even though they only meet in one scene, I still didn't have the connection that I did with so many other film couples. You could say I'm a "shipper."
But, the cinematographer was outstanding! Just that opening shot, a few seconds in, took my breath away. It was filmed very beautifully and soundly and thought it was some of the best I've seen in years.
It's a very cute date movie and for those that believe in destiny and fate, go out and rent this movie. It's sweet and you'll definitely enjoy it!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
The Social Network (2010)
DIRECTOR: David Fincher
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures
STARRING: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Drama, Biography
GRADE: C-
Wow. Am I the one who DIDN'T like this film? I mean, normally before I formally write my review, I check out other ones (Spill.com, Rotten Tomatoes, ETC), but it seems like every other critic really enjoyed this movie.
First off, I loved the concept! Facebook is something that EVERYONE uses, and of course, this movie will attract millions of people, but the problem is this played into a court-room drama, but without the court-room! I mean, the movie basically consisted of 3 acts, and the only one I really enjoyed and got into was the first act. It peaked and then just went plummeting down.
The actors were actually really great and I'm beginning to love Jesse Eisenberg, because just the way he enunciated his words fit his character. The supporting actors were great, too. However, the one thing I'll never understand is the characters of the Winklevoss twins. Their dialogue was some of the worst I've heard in a long time! I don't know if it was purposeful, but the way it was presented was serious and the characters actually meant it, so it was hard to distingish the proper reaction.
A lot of critics compared it to "Citizen Kane," which kinda makes me want to scream. "Citizen Kane' was an amazing, beautiful, artistic masterpiece that has so much depth, it's hard to even explain. This is a sloppy, thrown-together should-be-independent film that happens to sell well because of it's concept, not of its final product.
The film dragged in more places than it should, but the sad part is that it IS such an interesting story, but it was just presented in such a boring way to its audience. They're marketing to ages 12-25, but most are used to movies like "Zombieland" or "The Notebook" or "The Hangover" where the plots are so intense in every scene, that their attention spans have lessened.
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures
STARRING: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Drama, Biography
GRADE: C-
Wow. Am I the one who DIDN'T like this film? I mean, normally before I formally write my review, I check out other ones (Spill.com, Rotten Tomatoes, ETC), but it seems like every other critic really enjoyed this movie.
First off, I loved the concept! Facebook is something that EVERYONE uses, and of course, this movie will attract millions of people, but the problem is this played into a court-room drama, but without the court-room! I mean, the movie basically consisted of 3 acts, and the only one I really enjoyed and got into was the first act. It peaked and then just went plummeting down.
The actors were actually really great and I'm beginning to love Jesse Eisenberg, because just the way he enunciated his words fit his character. The supporting actors were great, too. However, the one thing I'll never understand is the characters of the Winklevoss twins. Their dialogue was some of the worst I've heard in a long time! I don't know if it was purposeful, but the way it was presented was serious and the characters actually meant it, so it was hard to distingish the proper reaction.
A lot of critics compared it to "Citizen Kane," which kinda makes me want to scream. "Citizen Kane' was an amazing, beautiful, artistic masterpiece that has so much depth, it's hard to even explain. This is a sloppy, thrown-together should-be-independent film that happens to sell well because of it's concept, not of its final product.
The film dragged in more places than it should, but the sad part is that it IS such an interesting story, but it was just presented in such a boring way to its audience. They're marketing to ages 12-25, but most are used to movies like "Zombieland" or "The Notebook" or "The Hangover" where the plots are so intense in every scene, that their attention spans have lessened.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
To Save a Life (2009)
DIRECTOR: Brian Baugh
STUDIO: Samuel Goldwyn Films
STARRING: Randy Wayne, Deja Kreutzberg, Joshua Weigel
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Drama
GRADE: C+
I watched this movie with my youth group, and I'm just going to say this flat-out: it's a Christian film, which usually gets written off as "a preachy, goodie-two-shoes movie about some dude/chick going soft." But, in reality some are very good quality films! Unfortuantely, this film DID have a great message, but was portrayed in not the best light.
So, my biggest problem was the editing. In almost every given scene, a shot wouldn't last more than 4 seconds, and even if it was just someone sitting in their car. The editors got too "cut happy" and even in flashbacks, the shots couldn't be more than a few frames.
Other than that, the movie was pretty solid. Acting pretty decent and directing wonderful! They had the right idea when making this film, and it definitely appeals to this generation. I'd probably recommend it to those who aren't even Christian, just too see how things can really be in church.
STUDIO: Samuel Goldwyn Films
STARRING: Randy Wayne, Deja Kreutzberg, Joshua Weigel
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Drama
GRADE: C+
I watched this movie with my youth group, and I'm just going to say this flat-out: it's a Christian film, which usually gets written off as "a preachy, goodie-two-shoes movie about some dude/chick going soft." But, in reality some are very good quality films! Unfortuantely, this film DID have a great message, but was portrayed in not the best light.
So, my biggest problem was the editing. In almost every given scene, a shot wouldn't last more than 4 seconds, and even if it was just someone sitting in their car. The editors got too "cut happy" and even in flashbacks, the shots couldn't be more than a few frames.
Other than that, the movie was pretty solid. Acting pretty decent and directing wonderful! They had the right idea when making this film, and it definitely appeals to this generation. I'd probably recommend it to those who aren't even Christian, just too see how things can really be in church.
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