Welcome to the first of, what I hope will be, many blogs.
Quick note about me before I get started boring your eyeballs. I am a 30 year old guy who loves nothing more than to be entertained. To be taken out of my element. To be transported to a place where I don't have to go to work, watch my kids, clean the house, do laundry, worry about my weight, etc. For me, the movies are a blissful retreat into a dream. A dream where I choose where it will happen. When it will happen. And what will happen. Maybe today I am Sherlock Holmes, trying my best to beat James Moriarty in a verbal game of chess. Maybe I'm Optimus Prime, trying to save living beings who are 1/38 my size and intelligence. Maybe I'm a tiny Hobbit who's only focus, at the moment, is dropping jewelry into a fiery pit. Bottom line, I like to be entertained. Sure the story has to be good, and if the acting is sub-par it removes you from it. But overall, my biggest draw is entertainment. So know that all my movie reviews are coming from that angle.
That said, lets get started. I thought I would review the 2 latest movies I have seen (though some of them may not be the most current running).
Looper: 2012 (Action, Thriller) - R
Starring Joseph Gordon Levitt, Bruce Willis, and Emily Blunt.
Overview - 30 years in the future, time travel will be invented. Criminal organizations have discovered that it is very hard to dispose of bodies in this time. So in today's world, there are a group of people known as Loopers. They, for lack of a better term, "take out the trash". There's only one rule. Never let your target escape. Even if the target......is you.
Review - (Don't worry. I wont give away anything thats not in the trailers) Director Rain Johnson is fairly new to the scene. The only other ships he has helmed have been "The Brothers Bloom" and "Brick". After this film, he has my support. I felt he really captured the writers intention. I thought they really captured what the future might be. Subtle, but significant changes. Yes they have the stereotypical hover bike, but it doesn't detract from the movie. About my only beef was that they show drug use, but the crew felt it was needed to "update that". So they devised a new way people would introduce the drug into their system, and I felt it was kind of silly. But again, it won't make me turn off the flick. I think Levitt does a dynamite job as the Front man for this film. Though 90% of us know him as the little boy who flapped his arms in "Angels in the Outfield", he has certainly grown up into quite the little action hero. In the film, Bruce Willis plays Levitt's future self. The director felt they needed to alter his nose to reflect what a younger Bruce Willis would look like. Personally, I felt it took away from the film because it kept making me stare at his face and think about how many marshmallows I could stuff up that shnoz. As far as Emily Blunt goes, I think she does a fantastic job playing a shotgun-wielding single mom. Her portrayal of just how far a mother would go to protect her son sends a message that is sorely needed in this culture. On top of that, the ending is great! I don't see how they could have done a better job wrapping it up. My wife disagrees with me, but she's wrong. :-)
Overall I would give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. The plot has a few holes, but what movie doesn't? It took me out of my element, and held my attention. The acting was very good, the writing was intriguing, and the ending was perfect.
Here are a few things to keep in mind with this movie....
1) It is violent. Lots of gun-totin, trigger-pullin, bullet-flingin action to be had. So if you don't like seeing people get shot, best avoid this one.
2) 2 Children die. Though not on camera, you do see Willis point a gun and hear a gun blast. If you are unable to handle that level of intensity, then avoid.
3) There are boobs. Levitt Visits a working girl midway through the film. I've had people ask me how I can give a positive review to a movie with nudity, seeing as how I am a married man with a child. The truth is that nudity doesn't bother me. I don't struggle with pornography or fantasizing about other women. I know this is a real issue for some, so if this is a struggle for you, then I advise you don't see it.
Cabin in the Woods: 2011 (Horror, Suspense) - R
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connelly, and Fran Kranz
Overview - (again, I will not give away anything not in the trailer) A group of early college students decide to take a trip to a cabin secluded in the woods, far from civilization. While there, they are attacked by the undead. Kranz discovers a wire with a camera attached and realizes they're being monitored. That all this is a set-up for something. The camera follows the wire underground to a secret bunker where scientists are monitoring them, like an experiment.
Review - Writer/Producer Joss Wheadon (Avengers, Dollhouse, Firefly) has burst not the scene as of late. His creativity brings angles to movies and shows that I have never seen before. Wheadon is truly a talent in this industry. "Cabin in the Woods" is to horror, what "Hot Fuzz" is to action. It pokes fun at the major horror concepts, while being a great horror film in and of itself. There are some amazing comedy moments in the movie, as well as genuine moments of suspense. They also do a great job at getting you to jump whenever they want to. and though it does have real moments of terror, it does a phenomenal job of connecting you and disconnecting you so that the horror images don't stay with you, like so many other films do. They break it up with ridiculous moments as well as good solid comedy. You can watch it just before bed, and not worry about being murdered in your sleep, or opening your eyes to see a dead little girl ghost hovering over your bed. Hemsworth is a stereotypical jock who thinks he can beat anything and anyone. He did a fine job, but really anyone who is built well could have played this role. Walking Krispy Kremes like myself....not so much. I will say that you don't have to watch your girl too closely, because he only loses his shirt once for only a few seconds. Kranz, the comedic relief, has some very funny lines, and delivers them with great timing. He did a great job as the tech guy/comedic relief on the show Dollhouse, and his personality brings a realism to the stoner character he plays in this story. The dialogue is good, the setting is creepy, the timing is amazing, and the ending is such a surprise that even God may not see it coming. :-)
Overall I give it 4 out of 5 stars because it engages you completely. It makes you laugh from your soul. It makes you wince, and it makes you jump. Wheadon and his director really hit their mark with this film.
Here are a few things to keep in kind with this movie...
1) There is a lot of killing, and a TON of blood. I'm pretty sure Wheadon used Hollywood's full blood reserve for this film. If you can't handle blood, you can't handle this movie.
2) There are boobs. It's easy to see it coming, so you can skip it if it bothers you. I'm guessing Wheadon put it in there because every other horror movie has it, and he's using this film to mock and emulate them.
3) Drug use. Kranz uses weed throughout the film, so if that bothers you (I can't imagine anyone who would be offended by it) then don't venture into this adventure.
If you have suggestions of movies for me to review, comments, or questions. Please email me at entertaindave@gmail.com
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