"We're going to need a bigger boat.."

It seems as though it's been quite awhile since I've spoke my mind online, so this will probably be a long read. Since that's the case, enjoy the subheadings and find one you'd like to read about.

Tonight I'm gonna cover a few movies: Night Listener, Invincible, Zoom, Snakes On a Plane, Glory Road, and Serenity. The first four are still in theaters and the last two are only on DVD. Enjoy....

"This is Noone at Night"

In the Night Listener, Robing Williams plays a radio show host who, through a publisher friend, procures a manuscript which is written by a young boy who was molested by his parents and their friends. Gabriel Noone finishes the manuscript shortly after his boyfriend had broken up with him, and the young writer, Pete Logand (Rory Culkin) contacted him. The two began a caring friendship over the phone in which Gabriel quickly finds out that Pete is dieing. After Noone finds out, his boyfriend hears a conversation between Gabriel, Pete and his mother (Toni Collette) and believes that Pete and his mother are, in fact, the same person. Gabriel disagrees but attempts to find the truth. And so begins Gabriel Noone's odd adventures in Minnesota.

The directing was superb and I didn't notice any oddities or goofs in my first viewing. The director, Patrick Stettner, delivers some very, VERY striking scenes which leave you holding your breath. The acting was amazing with Robin and Toni in a very comfortable enviorment; their chemistry seems as though they've acted together for years (see John Cusack and Jeremy Piven). Unlike most films, there are no scenes this movie could do without -- every scene has a purpose, every scene delivers its message concisely without verbose conversations.


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"Sir, you've spelled my name wrong"

With the beginning of football season, Invincible has opened at the perfect time. The opening scene shows dispair across Philladelphia in 1976 and the Eagles ending a horrible season, with another loss. A few scenes later Dick Vermil (Greg Kinnear) announces open try-outs for anyone to attempt to join the Eagles team for training camp. Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), is shown as a great player amongst his friends, although they want him to try out, his friends don't believe he'll do well; everyone but his father.

The practice scenes are great and the cinematography is awesome. The scenes never stop moving, even if the story does stall during practices. The historical football scenes are great, even down to the coinflip at Texas Stadium in which Jones, Staubach, Dorsett walk abrest to the referee. Followed by Tom Landry's walk to the bench. I greatly enjoyed historical footage shown before the credits in which we see his punt return.

The only anachorisms I noticed were the suites that Texas Stadium built in the top section in the mid 1990's. With a big budget like they had, they should've taken out the suites. Oh well.
I enjoyed it, so did my parents. It's nice to go see a movie with a good true story about hard work. Just make sure you read the history after the movie, there's some literary license, of course, so I can't complain.

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Comic Books, Plot Holes, and Tim Allen

Beginning with a comic book opening isn't that bad, but I was suprised at the gianormous plot hole that Zoom left open from the get go. Then again, maybe I missed the part wilst I was attempting to tear into my peanut M&M's without cascading them to the seats below me. Either way, the story never answered how someone got tramped in an "alternate dimension" and suddently reappeared.

But, outside of the small problem that solved would leave the entire movie on the drawing board, it was a suprise. I enjoyed the film like a little kid, laughing at the sketch comedy like I was laughing at I Love Lucy and her crazy antics. Not a hardy laugh, but several chuckles on a regular basis.

Since, I'm trying a new approach to posting, I put my opinion first; now the plot: Former super hero, Zoom (Tim Allen), must help Marsh Holloway (Courteney Cox Arquette) and Dr. Grant (Chevy Chase) get a new team of super heroes trained and ready to fight, in 10 days *cue corney dramatic music here*. It shows the ups and downs of having super powers, just as Sky High does in a sense, and forces those to find their true selves in the process.
I really enjoyed this film: it was serious, silly and humorous.. of course to a 8-13 year old, or me after a long day. These are the films I enjoy watching while I'm relaxing on Saturday afternoon, no thought, just enjoyment.
Don't watch if you're looking for a serious film; it was made to be for children, keep that in mind.

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"There's one thing other films don't have this summer... Snakes... On a Plane!"

Quite possibly the worst name in movie history, yet my brother, dad and I saw it last weekend. I'm not a big fan of snakes, and even less of a fan of those that are trying to kill people. But, that's beside the point.
But, that's beside the point.

Beginning in Hawaii, a moto-x rider stumbles across a murder and is forced into FBI custody. Neville Flynn (Samuel L Jackson) promises to take care of Sean Jones (Nathan Phillips) from Eddie Kim (Byron Lawson), but the unexpected happens when Kim puts snakes on the plane that Flynn and Jones are on.

Quite a funny movie, but definately not a comedy. SOAP definately had its funny parts, but it mostly is an action flick.

The directing wasn't bad, I was expected B quality and got A. The script wasn't as hokey as some would want to believe and most social groups are mentioned, if not killed, in the movie. Acting wasn't as bad as most would think either.

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Eh, I'm tired, time to sleep. I'll get to Serenity and Glory Road with this teaser: haha, I made you read this.
~Steve

"Get Busy Livin', or Get Busy Diein'"

Friday night at dinner my father listed a few movies he wanted to go see, in the list were Miami Vice, World Trade Center, Night Listener, and A Scanner Darkly. But, at the end of the weekend, there are only a few I can scratch of his list.

Seeing as we go see a movie almost every afternoon, I'm pretty sure we'll see everything in wide release. But no one cares what my dad wants to see, just how I thought the movies were I've seen.

Mooby's, One Ring, and Donkey brutality

Clerks II has been on my "must see list" for almost 4 months now, and I've finally given myself enough time to go see it. It was definately worth the $7.50; hell, I'm even willing to spend more on Kevin Smith's films. His direction and acting were worth every penny. Even as little press it's recieved, I haven't seen a movie this funny in years. Since I saw it early Friday evening, I was expecting a semi-large crowd, but we were in a small theatre seemingly at the end of the hall.

If you have seen Clerks., you will know Dante Hicks and Randal Graves work at the Quick Stop Groceries. The first film takes place over a single day, just as the sequel does. It's been a long while since I've seen Clerks., but I remember it being hilarious.

As Dante arrives at the Quick Stop, he opens the steel door and sees it on fire, quickly closing it as if it's a dream and opening it again. A year later, Dante and Randal are working together at a Mooby's, a fast food restaurant much like a McDonalds. Today is the last day that Dante will be in Jersey before moving to Florida with his fiancee Emma and the happenings of the last day make my life seem boring.

I need to find a Mooby's to work at; seems like they're having a lot of fun. Anyway, I haven't laughed that hard and that many times in.... well, I forget when the last time was. The movie was hilfuckinglarious. I enjoy Kevin Smith's directing and Randal gives his opinion no matter who's listening... heh, "Porch Monkey 4 Life!"
I don't want to make it seem like I'm basing a ratings system off of this movie, but I think I'd have to give it some mad props.



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"The world will never be the same after this morning"

As my father enjoys movies as much as I, we headed out to see Oliver Stone's new film, World Trade Center. If you're old enough to find this blog, you're old enough to remember where you were, and possibly what time of day it was, when you found out that Tower 1 was hit by American flight 11. I found out at 8:17 CST, walking between classes, immediately I ducked my head in a class and saw that a second plane had hit as well. Everyone knew what we were watching -- history in the making, the world changing forever, an outbreak of war -- and in an instance at 9 AM Tower 2 collapses and the world is plunged into silence outside of New York where it is chaos. My teacher said it best, "Holy shit."

Even 4 years 11 months after the matter, the film still evokes the same eery silence that everyone felt that clear crisp day. From the start I knew I was in for a treat. The opening scenes show a normal day, as it was for everyone but the 19 hijackers. 30 minutes later the first tower is hit and no one knows what's going on. The rest is history, but from a different point of view; a view of those who lived through the most horrible event on American soil.
Oliver Stone went out of his way on this one and didn't let the Hollywoodesque feel even begin to creep into this future classic. Nicolas Cage leads a performance like none I've ever seen from him; no over acting, no clicheic lines, but a true hard nose cop, as I think John McLoughin truly is. The entire cast brings a piece of every characters emotions of how emergency workers families were feeling that day, every character important, every character pulling emotion buttons in the audience. Willy Jimeno (Michael Pena) brings out the best of human compassion as he argues with rescuers to get out his partner first. "If he dies, I die!" I don't think there's much more praise I, a lowly student, can give a film of this greatness.

Of course people will redicule the movie for being horrible; a quick buck for Hollywood; a movie that never should have been made, blah blah blah. They are wrong. In 15 years when the high schoolers are taking history wondering why the US invaded Afghanistan and why people are constantly on the lookout for possible terrorists on planes, they will watch this movie and understand what happend that day. They will understand what it was like to live through the time when no one knew what tomorrow would bring, no one knew if the weekend would come, and no one knew if a father would come home.



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Cocaine, Speed Boats, and Fast Company

Although I'm not a huge fan of Colin Farrell, I've been pleasentl suprised by a few of his movies. Most notably Tigerland, Phone Booth, and of course, Miami Vice. Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx and a seemingly unkown cast from a broad swath of countries brings together one of Michael Manns' best films yet. The gritiness of Collateral ceeps through but suits the film correctly.
Undercover cops find out about a FBI case which goes horribly wrong causing the death of one of their previous informants throws them into the world of drug smuggling as they essentially "volunteer" for the job. As the film progresses they fall deeper into the world of drugs; forcing the question of how they get out cleanly. Everything is answered by several events hurtling everyone together into the white knuckle climax nearly at the end, leaving you wondering how long you have been waiting for the answers.

The acting was grand and I couldn't find any faults with any of the actors. All the characters were deep enough to care about them, but no time was wasted on unimportant characters. Definately not a film for my mother to go see, since she's a little squimish and not a big fan of long fight scenes. I'm actually planning to go see it again with some friends, hence it is actually one that I may be buying when it's released.

The only fault I can see in the movie is that it seems to revolve around Colin Farrell while Jamie Foxx is only a sidekick. Perhaps the original series was the same way, but Colin seems to have all he wants in this. Reminds me of any film where the main character always gets the girl and the sidekick always seems to have relationship problems.



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Nascar, Product Placement and Comedy(?)

Of course, I'm talking about Talladega Nights. If you've read my first post you know that I completely disagreed with what Ebert and Roeper said. Now, I've seen Old School and I've enjoyed parts of Anchorman, but Will Ferrell just isn't a leading man in my eyes. I've seen plenty of movies in the past without ever wanting to leave it because of the movie. I've wanted to leave after being surrounded by talketive kids and idiots alike.

The film begins with a son being born after being thrown out of his mothers womb. Then, years later, Ricky Bobby (Ferrell) is shown as a jack man for a Nascar team who's driver has given up on a race and Ricky hops into the car and goes on to win.........somehow..... The film then goes on to show the ups and downs of racing.

I was so happy that it ended that I didn't speak to my father about it until we were at the car as not to insult those around me. I felt the movie shows a dumbing down of America. For some reason I felt like I was smarter by walking out of the theatre. Then again, perhaps I'm too serious for a movie like this. Perhaps I should become an alcoholic father who lets his kids talk to him and his family like they're gangsters while cursing up a storm before they're 10. I'm also going to have to let my kids being as unintelligent as possible so that they could find humor in movies like these.

I found two parts amusing: 1) When Ricky was "on fire" and cries out forTom Cruise to help him; 2) The credits.

Summary: I'll channel surf through it.



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I suppose that's enough for tonight, it's been interesting, I'll do some more tomorrow.

Feel free to give your opinions, I definately would like to hear what anyone has to say.
~Steve

Popping my cherry

Being the first topic, wanted to let everyone know, who ever it is that may read this, that I plan on giving an unbias opinion of movies. I love movies as much as the next person, but Ebert and Roeper's view of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby has forced me into voicing my opinions to contrast the paid critics views.

I'm not sure when it is I'll be getting to my first film review but check back soon.

~Steve