Swapping a globe-hopping epic for a Jackie Chan action comedy is a bit of a let-down. Yes, it's mindlessly enjoyable, but the storyline is reduced to a series of scenes that merely link together a string of elaborately choreographed (by Chan) fight scenes. Some sequences are hilarious, others feature wacky cameos, and the filmmakers have fun recreating various international locales on a Berlin movie studio backlot. Digital trickery fills in the details and is mostly eye-catching, although the sparkly transition sequences are rather iffy to say the least.
Oh bring back Willie Fog the cartoon series, now that was cool!
Quote of the movie (and this does somewhat set the tone for the whole movie...):
“You had me at the nipples.”----The Steamer Captain (Mark Addy)
5/10 - Around the World in 80 Days
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Friday, July 09, 2004
Movie Review: Shrek 2
Wooooohooo!
I loved Shrek and couldn't wait for this movie!
Enjoyed this one immensely, as to be expected its not as good a movie as the first, but it still has plenty of laughs, the story is good, and the usual bunch of fairytale characters as we wouldnt usually see them!
This film is definately aimed at the more mature audience, a lot of jokes Im sure went way over the heads of the 1000's of children we shared the cinema with.
I wont say anymore here... just go and see it!
9/10 - Shrek 2
I loved Shrek and couldn't wait for this movie!
Enjoyed this one immensely, as to be expected its not as good a movie as the first, but it still has plenty of laughs, the story is good, and the usual bunch of fairytale characters as we wouldnt usually see them!
This film is definately aimed at the more mature audience, a lot of jokes Im sure went way over the heads of the 1000's of children we shared the cinema with.
I wont say anymore here... just go and see it!
9/10 - Shrek 2
Movie Review: Walking Tall
I wasn't sure what to expect from this movie starring ex-wrestler The Rock and Johnny Knoxville from Jackass. I did however enjoy The Rock (wonder when he will use his own name?) in his last film "Welcome to the Jungle" so I thought I'd give this one a shot.
and discovered a movie which was reasonably enjoyable. Sure its no great masterpiece and has a very simple format... basic action etc.
Reminds me very much of Arnie's early days.
5/10 - Walking Tall
A better movie of The Rock's is "Welcome to the Jungle" (6/10), both action and comedy are in this one, and a ok performance by King of New York - Christopher Walken as the big bad boss guy.
and discovered a movie which was reasonably enjoyable. Sure its no great masterpiece and has a very simple format... basic action etc.
Reminds me very much of Arnie's early days.
5/10 - Walking Tall
A better movie of The Rock's is "Welcome to the Jungle" (6/10), both action and comedy are in this one, and a ok performance by King of New York - Christopher Walken as the big bad boss guy.
Movie Review: The Punisher
I love this character, a great comic book antihero (or is a hero, not sure).
I wont go into to many details regarding his motivations and wot not as it would spoil it for the rest of you.
This movie adaptation is at best adequate, which is unfortunate to say the lesat. The action scenes arnt really up to the standards we have become accustomed to with movies of today, the effects are.. well there isnt a lot to go wrong with as its just explosions and the like so no complaints there. I think the problem is that it was all bit lackluster. By that I mean you never really feel that bad for him, and his vengeance never really heats up all that much. The result being a film which plods along to its inevitable conclusion, one that you know is coming almost from the end of the title sequence.
John Travolta's portrayal of the villain is pretty much sidelined and you cant help but feel he is there for his paycheque and not much else.
Basically I think they have made The Punisher way too nice and although Im not an advocate of violence for violence sake, this isnt violent enough... The Punisher was not a "nice" man, he was fundamentaly a good man that no longer beilieved in the justice system, but never a "nice" man.
Finally, this film couldnt make up its mind if it was going to be a comicbook super hero tale with super villain baddies or a serious action movie, it needs to be one or the other, not some strange amagamation of the two. By this i mean (possible movie spoiler) as an example, when the odd hitman known as The Russian arrives to kill Frank, well in the comic he is an indestructable insane genetically altered man, in the movie he looks identical, has the same comicbook name, even seems to be indestructable and impervious to pain. Then rsther abruptly he is defeated and no more is mentioned. I wouldnt have a problem with this but it felt so incongruous to the rest of the movie that it was just plain out of place and very wrong.
Anyway, its worth a look still, though I would wait for the DVD release.
5/10 for the movie
8/10 for the great website The Punisher
I wont go into to many details regarding his motivations and wot not as it would spoil it for the rest of you.
This movie adaptation is at best adequate, which is unfortunate to say the lesat. The action scenes arnt really up to the standards we have become accustomed to with movies of today, the effects are.. well there isnt a lot to go wrong with as its just explosions and the like so no complaints there. I think the problem is that it was all bit lackluster. By that I mean you never really feel that bad for him, and his vengeance never really heats up all that much. The result being a film which plods along to its inevitable conclusion, one that you know is coming almost from the end of the title sequence.
John Travolta's portrayal of the villain is pretty much sidelined and you cant help but feel he is there for his paycheque and not much else.
Basically I think they have made The Punisher way too nice and although Im not an advocate of violence for violence sake, this isnt violent enough... The Punisher was not a "nice" man, he was fundamentaly a good man that no longer beilieved in the justice system, but never a "nice" man.
Finally, this film couldnt make up its mind if it was going to be a comicbook super hero tale with super villain baddies or a serious action movie, it needs to be one or the other, not some strange amagamation of the two. By this i mean (possible movie spoiler) as an example, when the odd hitman known as The Russian arrives to kill Frank, well in the comic he is an indestructable insane genetically altered man, in the movie he looks identical, has the same comicbook name, even seems to be indestructable and impervious to pain. Then rsther abruptly he is defeated and no more is mentioned. I wouldnt have a problem with this but it felt so incongruous to the rest of the movie that it was just plain out of place and very wrong.
Anyway, its worth a look still, though I would wait for the DVD release.
5/10 for the movie
8/10 for the great website The Punisher
I am the son of Kirk douglas!!!
I came across this account about the son of one of Hollywood's much loved actors, I couldn't stop laughing, but if you dont know Kirk's movies this may pass over your head a little...
Eric (son of Kirk) Douglas, who died this week,
tried his hand at stand-up comedy back in the 80s.
He had some success in Las Vegas and brought his,
frankly dreadful, act to London. On the first
night Eric gets about two jokes in before the
heckling begins. Used to respect from audiences
because he was the son of one of America's best
loved actors Eric was surprised at the hostile
reaction. Eventually he snapped and screamed
"You can't treat me like this... I'm the son
of Kirk Douglas!"
After a very brief pause, a wag at the back of
the audience stood up and shouted "No! I'M the
son of Kirk Douglas"...then someone else stood up
and shouted "No! I'M the son of Kirk Douglas"
and so on. Eric left the stage in tears.
oh Im laughing again...my sides....my sides
*wipes tears from eyes....
I love the Sparticus movie, I wonder if he even realised the joke?!?
for those who don't get it have a look at this:
Sparticus
Eric (son of Kirk) Douglas, who died this week,
tried his hand at stand-up comedy back in the 80s.
He had some success in Las Vegas and brought his,
frankly dreadful, act to London. On the first
night Eric gets about two jokes in before the
heckling begins. Used to respect from audiences
because he was the son of one of America's best
loved actors Eric was surprised at the hostile
reaction. Eventually he snapped and screamed
"You can't treat me like this... I'm the son
of Kirk Douglas!"
After a very brief pause, a wag at the back of
the audience stood up and shouted "No! I'M the
son of Kirk Douglas"...then someone else stood up
and shouted "No! I'M the son of Kirk Douglas"
and so on. Eric left the stage in tears.
oh Im laughing again...my sides....my sides
*wipes tears from eyes....
I love the Sparticus movie, I wonder if he even realised the joke?!?
for those who don't get it have a look at this:
Sparticus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)