The inner beast will be released

I am reviewing The Hulk today, Marvel's latest comic book adaptation. Directed by Ang Lee, this film stars Eric Bana (Black Hawk Down) as Bruce Banning, a brilliant geneticist. Working with his partner, and former girlfriend, Betty Ross (Jennifer Connelly-A Beautiful Mind), there is an accident where he is struck with radiation. Amazingly, he is not killed, not knowing that due to an experiment his own father (Nick Nolte-The Good Theif) performed on himself years before would release a beast from within him. Also starring Sam Elliott (We Were Soliders).

I was sure that the newest Hulk trailer had ruined the movie, but I was wrong. While not the best of the recent comic to movie adapations (Spiderman, Daredevil), I found it enjoyable, and probably the most intelligent story thus far. It did run a little long, but every thing was explained quickly and well. I particularly liked the beginning where Bruce is concieved, born, and grows up. Done flawlessly with a comic book feel, we learn what we need to know about him and his origins. Bana was very well cast in my opinion. Nolte was great, but seeing as he looks like a mad scientist these days anyway, not particularly well costumed. Connelly was probably my least favorite in this film. Was her character supposed to be timid and prone to burst into tears at every turn? After her stunning performance in A Beautiful Mind I was disappointed with her weak, flat performance. The CG was very well done, and while a few things were rather cheesy, I have no complaints. In all, I think non fans and fans of the comic will enjoy this movie.


Bana and Nolte

Rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

Labels: Action

posted by Lisa at 1:07 p.m. |

 
2 Cool

The first of the 2 movies I am reviewing today is 2 Fast 2 Furious, directed by John Singleton, starring Paul Walker (Joy Ride), Tyrese (Baby Boy), Eva Mendes (All About the Benjamins), and Cole Hauser (Tears of the Sun). Set in Miami, former cop Brian O'Connor (Walker) is now a street racer. He is recruited by the FBI to assist their undercover officer (Mendes) in bringing down crime lord Carter Verone (Hauser). O'Connor agrees, but only if he can choose a partner. He goes back to the place where he grew up to get the assistance of an old friend, a convict by the name of Roman Pearce (Tyrese).

Calling this movie a sequel is an insult to the first film. The Fast and the Furious was fun, had strong characters and some great racing sequences to make the film fun, 2 Fast 2 Furious was a bitter disappointment. To begin with, the film only had two characters, O'Connor and Pearce, while the rest were demoted to bit players. If the two had been good characters, better acted with less wooden dialogue, maybe it wouldn't have failed so miserably. Instead, I spent the entire movie thinking that in real life, nobody would be O'Connor's friend, unless kicking his ass was a sign of affection. The race scenes lacked everything the first one offered, and were just plain lame. I especially enjoyed that in every race/action scene they went into hyperdrive hitting the 'nos'. And they didn't just give them Star Trek speed once, but all the time. It was silly the first time, and worse everytime after. The story itself made little to no sense. There is one time when Pearce asks O'Connor if he 'still has it'. Did everyone forget that, in the first movie, O'Connor couldn't drive? I suppose when you film all the action first and then decide that there should be a script, you do what you can. Singleton has to get credit for trying, but that's it. He was trying for a 'Dukes of Hazzard' feel that just didn't work. In all, poor direction, an awful story and terrible casting made for a movie not worth the time I spent in the theater. Hell, I think my IQ dropped 5 points in the first 30 minutes.

Rating: 0.5 (out of 5)

The second film I am reviewing today is director Rob Schmidt's Wrong Turn. Chris Finn (Desmond Harrington-Ghost Ship) is forced off the highway on to an unused dirt road due to an accident on the freeway. He collides with a van that is broken down on the road and the course of his life changes. Also starring Eliza Dushku (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Emmanuelle Chriqui (On the Line), and Jeremy Sisto (Six Feet Under). Their cell phones don't work, so they are forced to walk along the road seeking help. They come across a falling down cottage, and head towards it, not realizing that they've made a wrong turn.

This movie is less a thriller/horror movie than it is an adventure movie. There is lots of suspense, some daring escapes and chases, and an interesting story. An new take on the legend of the mountain men, and this film is more like a teenage Deliverance with lots of tanned tummys and push up bras. There are of course the typical 'scary' movie moments; like the obligitory death of random people at the beginning to build suspense, and the cheesy lines ("It's not your fault."). Decent performances by all, and shows us a new wave of up and comers, although I hope that Harrington and Dushku don't find themselves trapped doing slasher flicks (this is the second for both). There were some wonderfully gory scenes, and some great moments where I nearly jumped out of my seat. It was a fun ride, and certainly worth seeing if you like 'scary' movies.


L to R: Dushku, Harrington, Chriqui and Sisto

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

Labels: Action, Horror

posted by Lisa at 7:50 a.m. |

 
There are 3.7 trillion fish in the ocean; they're looking for one

I'm reviewing the animated film Finding Nemo. Marlin is a clown fish, and since the death of his wife, has been very overprotective of his only son Nemo. When Nemo is captured by a dentist for his fish tank, his timid father sets out to search the ocean to find him. Voices by Albert Brooks (The In-Laws), Ellen DeGeneres (If These Walls Could Talk 2), Alexander Gould (They), Willem Dafoe (Spiderman), and Geoffrey Rush (Ned Kelly).

Pixar and Disney have done it again. Finding Nemo is a fun, entertaining, and beautifully rendered film. A great story line, some genuinely funny jokes, and amazingly realistic animation promise that this film will be a classic. There were times when I felt tears sting my eyes, my heart pounded with fright, and I laughed until it hurt. A great job by DeGeneres who voices Dory, a fish trying to help Marlin despite her lack of short term memory. One scene in particular where Dory was trying to speak whale cracked me up. This is a film that will be loved by all ages, but don't go in expecting it to be like Monster's Inc, Pixar's smash hit of 2001. The only thing the two have in common is the animation studio. Young children may be frightened by a few scenes that involve fish with big teeth, but it is not violent in any way. (It is rated G after all. :-D) A must see!


Dory and Marlin ask for directions

Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

Get in. Get out. Get even.

I am also reviewing The Italian Job, directed by F. Gary Gray. Based on the 1969 Michael Caine film of the same name, a group of thieves pull off the perfect job, only to be double crossed by one of their own. One year later, they are seeking revenge. Starring Mark Wahlberg (Rock Star), Charlize Theron (Waking Up In Reno), Edward Norton (Red Dragon), Seth Green (Austin Powers in Goldmember), Jason Statham (The Transporter), Mos Def (Brown Sugar), and Donald Sutherland (Path to War).

This was a good movie. However, if you've seen the trailer, don't waste your money going to see it in the theater. All the good parts and most of the jokes are in the trailer, which is too bad. It's a great story, with some really original ideas, interesting action sequences, and great performances, but due to the trailer, nothing suprised me. A real shame. Green and Statham are favorites of mine, and I was especially pleased by the larger role given to Green. It's too bad he'll never be considered a leading man because I think he's great. I was unsure about Theron, having seen her in very little, and most of her roles being small, but she did a great job with this film. I was impressed. Wahlberg, Norton, and Sutherland were perhaps not used to their full potential, but enjoyable nonetheless. As for Def, I think we'll see him more in the future, although perhaps comedies are more for him. I recommend seeing this film if you haven't seen the preview for it. If you have, it's a rental.


From left to right: Theron, Wahlberg, Def and Statham

Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

Labels: Family

posted by Lisa at 7:27 a.m. |