"Avatar"

Sam Worthington
Zoe Saldana
Sigourney Weaver
Stephen Lang
Michelle Rodriguez
Giovanni Ribisi
Joel David Moore
CCH Pounder
Wes Studi
Laz Alonso






PG13           162           2009


In the future, Jake, a paraplegic war veteran, is brought to another planet, Pandora, which is inhabited by the Na'vi, a humanoid race with their own language and culture. Those from Earth find themselves at odds with each other and the local culture. Written by Giorgio_C on imdb.com

As I started watching this film I realize that I had seen this film. It wasn't until I was half thru the film when I realized that it was “Dances with Wolves” with a scifi twist. This is an interesting film with amazing acting. I enjoyed the special effects immensely.

But “Avatar” a story that lacks the same imagination as the special effects. The story takes most of its major plot points directly from “Dances with Wolves.” I not saying its not an interesting story; its just that at the length of 162 minutes it can be a bit taxing to watch. The first two hours is mainly plot development of the three major plots running through the film. The last forty minutes of action is worth the wait.

The special effects that are displayed will bedazzled you. It took James Cameron ten years for technology to catch up with his vision for “Avatar.” I think that the special effect were worth the wait. They drawn you into the story.

Even with a weak story, the amazing special effects, the acting also makes “Avatar” a must see. The emotions that are captured helps you get lost in the film. He come to see the Na'vi as a people and forget that humans played this parts. It's going to firmly puts Sam Worthington on the map for those who didn't see him in “Terminator: Salvation”. He's poised to make his mark on Hollywood with his next major blockbuster as Perseus in the remake of the classic “Clash of the Titans.”

I give “Avatar” 4 out of 5.

"Twilight"

Kristen Stewart
Robert Pattinson
Cam Gigandet
Billy Burke
Ashley Greene
Nikki Reed
Jackson Rathbone
Kellan Lutz
Peter Facinelli
Elizabeth Reaser
Taylor Lautner







PG13           120min           2008


Based on the international bestseller by Stephanie Meyer's Twilight is about a teenage girl moving to a small town in Washington and falling in love with a vampire.

A couple of years ago I came across this web site that named books that were being turned into movies. It had a description of the book and information on the film. Two of the films that happened to be on it were Jumper and Twilight. I read there description and thought they would be interesting reads and they have not disappointed.

This is a faithful adaptation of the book and is one giant shout-out to the fans of the book without leaving out the uninitiated. The angst and drama is all there. The changes made by Melissa Rosenberg and Catherine Hardwicke really make Twilight fresh and new for fans of the book. This going to be a global phenomenon.

There many little things that the fans will recognize from the book. Its these little details that will make fans of the series see it again. But it also a film that girlfriends will take their boyfriends and they can enjoy. There is more action and less of the introspective dialog from Bella that will make most men uncomfortable. Most who are new to the series will not be disappointed.

The angst and drama from the books is there. Pattinson plays Edwards as a younger version of Angel without the curse. Stewart plays Bella unabashed love for Edward rivaling Juliet's love for Romeo. Just as in the book the movie romance scream for a sequel.

The changes made to the screen whether it was in the adaptation of the screenplay by Melissa Rosenberg or the ideas that Catherine Hardwicke made, Twilight is familiar but totally fresh unlike the first two Harry Potter that were almost direct adaptation from the book. It follows the overall plot of the book but makes changes to the story that makes it more accessible for live action. Being a fan and knowing the story I can wait for the next ones to come out.

If you have not be introduce to the Twilight Universe here are the books for purchase:

Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)
I give Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) 4 out of 5.

Trailers at the beginning of my screening was Knowing, Push, and 7 Pounds

I give Twilight 4 out of 5.

"Ghost Rider"

Nicolas Cage
Eva Mendes
Wes Bentley
Sam Elliot
Peter Fonda
Donal Logue
Matt Long
Raquel Alessi
Brent Cullen






PG13           114min           2007


“Ghost Rider” is based on the Marvel comic of the same name, Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt driver, makes a deal with a demon to save a love one and years later when the demon comes to collect he must become the demonic bounty hunter known as the Ghost Rider.

It wasn’t what I expected. It was campier than I would have liked. Nicolas Cage gave patented Nic Cage delivery. The story needed more work.

For an origin story I found “Ghost Rider” was too campy. The tone of the film was too light with many of the actors’ deliveries were too ADD. This movie could not make up its mind in what it wanted to be. half the actors were taking themselves seriously and the other half were making quips every five seconds .

Nicolas Cage played Johnny Blaze a little too jovial, for a man in his position. A demon owns your soul and he knew this for twenty plus years. A man walking in those shoes would be less of optimist and more of pessimist. He plays it flat, there is no difference, you could have taken which for me didn’t work for a character that is constantly living with this cloud over his head.

Eva Mendes one of the most beautiful actresses on screen but this character didn’t fit her. Even with the weak character develop this character was conflicted all around. Her character is heart broken when he leaves her and jovial years later when Blaze stops her in the middle of the road; and her sporadic delivers didn’t help this conflicted film.

“Ghost Rider” is a film that needed major work before filming. For an origin story it is the weakest of all the Marvel film, even weaker than “The Punisher.” The characters were never developed enough for you to care for them. Toward the end I cared more for Blackheart than I did for Ghost Rider and really wanted Blackheart to kick his butt.

Even the outstanding special effects cannot help this film; it left itself nowhere to go. I was left totally disappoint that it wasn’t better. I think I should have pony up to buy it instead of renting it; maybe the extended cut is better, anyone out there if you made it this far and you have the extended cut could you give the 411 in a comment.

I give it 1/5 Gs.

"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"

Ioan Gruffudd
Jessica Alba
Chris Evans
Michael Chiklis
Julian McMahon
Kerry Washington
Andre Braugher
Laurence Fishburne
Doug Jones
Beau Garrett




PG           92min           2007


“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” is about the Fantastic Four learning that there are far superior super-powered beings in the universe bent on destroying our world. They square off against the powerful Silver Surfer and the planet-eating Galactus.

This film rose to the occasion. This time around we find that the Fantastic Four are fallible and are struggling to control their lives as they spiral in the spheres of superheroes, celebrities, and normalcy. This film is better than the first. The story line coming from the comic it has been enhanced and modernized.

The Silver Surfer looks awesome. Given voice by the bass of Laurence Fishburne and the miming of Doug Jones, together this makes the character work. Laurence conveys so much emotion that it gives life to the semi-computer generated character.

“Rise of the Silver Surfer” find our heroes in a turning point in their lives. The character developments are complex yet progress naturally. Even though you know how its going to turn out its well developed and gives each character growth yet keeping true to their characters. There are funnier moments in this film.

This time around this is a more traditional and familiar story from the comics. Combining several story arcs from the comic to make a great comic book movie. Doom returns this time around in his more traditional comic book outfit and character traits.

If you a fan or not you will enjoy “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”. It’s a defiant winner. Where as other comic book movies kills its main villain FF shows its villain’s defeated but never destroyed just as in the comics. The only bad thing I can say about this film is that it ends too soon. You will want another twenty minutes.

I give it 4/5 GS.

"The Count of Monte Cristo"

Jim Caviezel
Guy Pearce
Richard Harris
James Frain
Dagmara Domincyzk
Michael Wincott
Luis Guzman
Henry Cavill




PG13           131min           2002


“The Count of Monte Cristo” is a tale of betrayal, adventure and revenge. When the dashing and guileless Edmond Dantes (Caviezel) is betrayed by his best friend (Pearce) and wrongly imprisoned, he becomes consumed by thoughts of vengeance. After a miraculous escape, he transforms himself into the mysterious and wealthy Count of Monte Cristo, insinuates himself into the French nobility and puts his cunning plan of revenge in action.

Based on the book of the same name by Alexander Dumas, “The Count of Monte Cristo” keeps the basic themes and the overall plot of the book but changes some of the major events from the book. You can’t use this version to pass your test. It is still entertaining and exciting to watch.

Caviezel and Pearce play off each other well enough to believe that they are best of friends in the beginning and total enemies in the end. Pearce comes across with an underlying anger that is believable through out the film. Caviezel transformation from a young man naive to the world into a man that has seen the world at its worst and embraces those darker impulses is subtler.

An outstanding cast featuring Richard HarrisLuis Guzman and Dagmara Domincyzk, the woman at the heart of this conflict, supports them. Richard Harris in one of his final performance is Dantes’s mentor in the Chateau d’If. Luis Guzman as “his man for life”, Jacopo is Dantes’s conscience. Dagmara Domincyzk is stunning as Mercedes and Dante’s one true love.

This re-imaging is more accessible to the modern youth than the book is. Having first read this in the ninth grade “The Count of Monte Cristo” has always been a favorite of mine but his a complicated read. I was always intrigued with the betrayal and revenge part of the book, and how it transformed a naïve young man into a harden survivor. This film completely captures what’s in the book with out being completely faithful to it.

I give it 4/5 Gs.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

Johnny Depp
Geoffrey Rush
Orlando Bloom
Keira Knightley
Jack Davenport
Bill Nighy
Jonathan Pryce
Stellan Skarsgard
Naomie Harris
Chow Yun Fat
Lee Arenberg
Mackenzie Crook
Kevin McNally
Tom Hollander
Martin Klebba




PG13           168min           2007


“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is the continuing pirate adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and Captain Barbossa. This time around they are banded together to fight the East Trading Company.

This is the best in the series. It not only concludes one of the best trilogies in movie history but it’s a great film in its only right. You don’t have to have seen the previous two to enjoy this film but knowing the history behind these characters makes it easier to understand.

It has something for everyone. Johnny Depp funnier and the story is epic for beginning to end. Once the action starts it doesn’t stop. Coming in at nearly three hours it wraps up not only the journey that was left from the second but also the overall story being told, with an tale that is sometimes convoluted and confusing, but leaves the door open for more pirates adventures.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is grand on scale that you don’t expect. The cinematography is amazing. They capture the open seas in all its glory but even this is outshined by the CGI. The CGI is flawless and massive. There is sensory overloaded; there is so much happening on the screen that you just have don’t enough time to process what everything on screen.

The film starts at a jog and around the ten-minute mark its starts running and continues at a break neck pace until the end. This is truly a pirate film; and must be closely paid attention to. Alliances switch faster than 3-card Monte on a street corner. The theatre is the best place to appreciate the grandiose scale of the action captured on the screen.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” is funnier and darker than the other films. All the main characters of this trilogy have satisfying conclusions. Will and Elizabeth have a conclusion befitting their relationship, but its bittersweet. Stay pass the credits, just as the others; there is a “bonus” at the end.

As a stand alone film its one of the best film I’ve seen this year. It concludes and does justice to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy and it is on par if not better than the original Pirates. You will enjoy this film for its intrigue, the new characters, the reveals of some, and the plot twisting that continue to turn on themselves until the very end.

I give it 5/5 Gs.

"Beowulf & Grendel"

Gerald Butler
Stellan Skarsgard
Sarah Polley
Ivgar Sigurdsson
Eddie Marsan
Tony Curran
Rory McCain
Ronan Vibert
Martin Delaney
Steinunn Olina
Spencer Wilding

R           103min           2005

“Beowulf & Grendel” is a tale of a Norse warrior’s battle with a murderous troll, based on the old English epic poem “Beowulf.”

This is a film that I found entertaining but it had many flaws. The dialogue is hard to understand and at some points in the movie incomprehensible. Gerard Butler shines as Beowulf. The cinematography is more outstanding than ‘Lord of the Rings.’

The dialogue in “Beowulf & Grendel” tried to sound ancient but modern in understanding. What it came off as for the most part was incomprehensible. The volume of their voices fluctuates and key scenes are cloaked in whispers that the mike didn’t pick up. The dialogue tried to hard and it came off as hollow, gibberish. Having to rewind several scenes in the film was annoying.

Gerard Butler shines in an other wise average film. Showcasing that he is the number one goto guy form epic warrior. Butler used this film as a precursor to the break out hit ‘300’. Even with the questionable dialogue Butler imbues Beowulf with the conflict of being torn with what is right and his duty.

Using Iceland as the backdrop of Denmark 500 A.D. is just breathe- taking. The rolling green hill and the torrential caves give the film a feel of being in the pass. If it weren’t for the dialogue you would believe that you were in Denmark 500 A.D.

If you can overlook the disconcerting dialogue “Beowulf & Grendel” is entertaining. Having tried to read the poem when I was younger, I found it to be to complicate to read. I found that the conflict being told, and faced by the character will resonate with viewer even now in today modern conflicts. Questioning what motivates one to kill and war should be asked soldiers, commanders and governments more often.

Although I found the dialogue disconcerting, the story being to made it bearable. Half the time you don’t know what’s going on but the scenery and Gerard Butler acting push you through it. The message of the story: Questioning one motivates? It is an important one that does get lost in the dialogue but shines through with the acting.

I give it 3/5 Gs.

"Last Holiday"

Queen Latifah
LL Cool J
Timothy Hutton
Alicia Witt
Gerard Depardieu
Giancarlo Esposito






PG13           112min           2006


”Last Holiday”is the story of a shy woman decides to take a European vacation, after she's diagnosed with a terminal illness.

A fun escapist film, that Queen Latifah imbues with a everyone vibe. Her character starts out being a shy under the radar woman, who realizes, after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, that she hasn’t lived. This leads her to drop everything fulfill her “dying” wishes.

The Queen shines in this comedy with the quirky pairing of LL Cool J, who plays timid salesman, and not the usual ladies man. Queen Latifah character Georgia Byrd is a person everyone should have in their life and if you don’t then you’re probable it. Georgia starts out quiet and meek, once she is misdiagnose she throws caution to the wind, and becomes, strong, confident, tells it like it is.

”Last Holiday” is a humorous comedy that commentates on people should strive for their dreams before its too later. It’s something that people struggle with everyday. In it humorous way its saying throw caution to the wind and find what makes you happy before its too late.

In Georgia’s European vacation she meets a cast of “characters” that need her help but also help her face things in her life that have held her back. When she thinks her time is running out she reevaluates her priority and the person she wants to spend the rest of her life as.

”Last Holiday” is just a funny feel good movie. Finding actors in out of type casting, that is a pleasant surprise to the viewer. It’s a film that you will enjoy because it allows you to escape your problems and enjoy Georgia Byrd on her journey of self-discovery, re-evaluation of her life, and fulfilling her dreams.

I give it 3/5 Gs.