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Traitor
Alex Florez
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2008/12/16 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Traitor

12.16.2008 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: PG-13 for intense violent sequences, thematic material and brief language.
Release Date: 2008-08-27
Starring: Jeffrey Nachmanoff,
Director(s):
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Country:USA
Official Website: http://traitor-themovie.com/

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We know someone is either betraying a friend, a country or a principle – that we obviously get from the title. But who and why is something that’s buried deep enough in the film to keep us guessing and wondering how clever the filmmakers can actually get with this.

In some ways, ‘Traitor’ is the classic espionage film that mixes and matches modern day headlines to construct a plot where Americans continue fighting terrorism all across the world.  To its credit however, it manages to personalize the story of its protagonist to a certain degree, stripping the film of the politically sententious rhetoric that so often make these films come across as propaganda.

Deceptively, Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda, Crash) plays Samir Horn, a former U.S. military operative who is linked to illicit activities in the middle east.  When an FBI agent (Guy Pearce) heads the investigation, he begins to track Horn’s every move slowly uncovering the truth behind the massive conspiracy he’s been a part of.

Ultimately, the film is about a man trying to do the right thing for the right reasons, or his own convictions, but also about how wrong things can go in the process.  In Traitor, that man just happens to be a Muslim American who finds himself in the middle of the conflict with hard decisions to make.  However dangerously close the films comes to being about religious extremism and how far people will go for what they believe in, it is very careful with its commentary on the matter. 

With a story that’s so rooted in politics and religion, the filmmakers actually manage to say very little about either subject. Both a good and a bad thing depending on how you look at it.  Its moral ambiguity may frustrate some but alleviate others just tuning in to watch bombs being disarmed at the last possible second.

The film’s strong performances (save for Jeff Daniels as the veteran CIA contractor with a personal agenda) almost do the impossible: make it cliché-proof.  Unfortunately, it is what it is: another spy thriller mirroring the ever present war on terror.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Alex Florez
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2008/12/16 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

12.16.2008 | By |

Rating: 2.0

Rated: PG-13 for adventure action and violence.
Release Date: 2008-08-01
Starring: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar
Director(s):
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Country:NULL
Official Website: http://robcohenthemummy.com/

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Make no bones about it, The Mummy franchise is and always has been a blatant attempt to recreate the Indiana Jones lore.  In this third installment, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the similarities are even more apparent.  Rick ‘Ricochet’ O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) is Indy of course; Maria Bello (who replaces Rachel Weisz as Evelyn) is their version of ‘Marion’; and their son Alex O’Connell (Luke Ford) matches up with Indiana’s heir apparent, Mutt Williams (as played by Shia LaBeouf).

 Unfortunately, the similarities also extend to the campiness, predictability, and unintelligent plot lines of ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’.  Come to think of it, even their titles are both ridiculously long. 

This time around, the O’Connells travel to Asia to battle the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li), awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse that a chinese sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) cast on him.  The film, to its credit, moves along rather quickly with one battle scene following another, and its a good thing because the acting is often unbearable.  At times, I couldn’t shake the feeling that newcomer Luke Ford, was doing his best Matt Damon impression.  Just a terrible pick altogether to play Brendan Fraser’s son, since they look only a couple of years apart.   An army of mummies, yetis in the himalayas and witchery I can believe, but Luke Ford playing Rick’s son, not a chance.

Of the three films, this one seems like the most poorly thought out as it strives to become more of a family adventure, than the thrilling archeological escapades in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ that most likely inspired the filmmakers in the first place.  I assure you that years from now, these films will be no relic.

The House Bunny
Alex Florez
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2008/12/15 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

The House Bunny

12.15.2008 | By |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: PG-13 for sex-related humor, partial nudity and brief strong language.
Release Date: 2008-08-22
Starring: Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith
Director(s):
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Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.thehousebunny.com/

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From the get-go ‘The House Bunny’ wants you to believe it’s a post-modern fairy tale comedy set on a college campus. Only when it nearly forgets what the moral to its story is, it almost becomes the ‘makeover’ episode from a daytime talk show.  In fact, I’m inclined to say it turns the word ‘makeover’ into a genre.

Leading the way is Anna Faris (Scary Movie), who steps into Shelley Darlingson’s pumps as a stereotypical blond Playboy bunny who is kicked out of Hugh Hefner’s mansion. But soon enough she finds a new home at an awkward sorority where the girls are dull, unpopular and desperate for pledges in order to keep the dean from taking away their house.  Predictably however, Shelley takes it upon herself to transform the girls into beauty queens and become the most coveted group to be around.

The ‘girls’, played by stars on the rise, Emma Stone (Superbad), Kat Dennings (Charlie Bartlett), Katharine McPhee (American Idol), Rumer Willis (Bruce and Demi’s eldest) and a few others, are so surprisingly likable during their pre-makeover stage that you’d almost wish they didn’t undergo any treatment.  Emma Stone in particular, works the ‘bookworm’ role so charmingly well, she steals more than one scene clearly meant for Faris to carry, who can’t seem to hide how hard she tries for every laugh. 

The pitfall here is that for too long a period, the film paints vanity in such a great light, that it sends mixed signals to the audience about the message the filmmakers want to convey. Is being beautiful on the outside really that important to get ahead in life? Well, for most of the film, they make you think so.  Of course, that’s no message for a fairy tale to send – Shelley must learn that what boys really like is what’s on the inside. And so begins a mad and sloppy dash during the second half of the film to make things right.  

One opportunity that the filmmakers certainly missed was to demystify the famous Playboy mansion. It does nothing to change or add to the widely held and fixed idea we all have of the estate.  Instead we’re limited to some Hugh Hefner cameos and a thinly put together subplot involving Shelley’s banishment.

Nevertheless, this female driven comedy has its appeal as screenwriters Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith (Legally Blonde) take parts from ‘The Revenge of the Nerds’ lore and attempt to make it their own.

Nothing Like the Holidays (Movie Review)
Mike Pierce
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2008/12/12 at 12:00am

Reviews

Nothing Like the Holidays (Movie Review)

12.12.2008 | By |

A holiday movie for the season, Nothing Like the Holidays stars a huge Latino cast, including Freddy Rodríguez, Luis Guzmán, Jay Hernández, Elizabeth Peña, John Leguizamo, and more. It’s about a Puerto Rican family living in the cold, windy city of Chicago, specifically Humboldt Park.

What’s it about, you may ask? Well, mix one crazy family, one white girl, a great soundtrack, and you get a pretty damn funny movie. Ok, ok, here’s the breakdown:

  • One son returns from Iraq, uncertain about what he wants to do with his life.
  • Another son is married to the white girl, who happens to make more money than him.
  • The sister, whom the family thinks is a huge actress in Hollywood, but isn’t (though she’s hot!).
  • The crazy cousin, who’s pretty much like another brother—he’s just nuts!
  • The almost-adopted son, living the street life and dealing with his own drama.
  • The dad, who runs a cool little store on the street corner, but is hiding a secret.
  • And last but not least, the mom, who thinks that “secret” is that he’s cheating on her.

Does that make sense? (Lol) The movie is funny and entertaining, and I loved the cast.

The Reader
Mack Chico
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2008/12/11 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Reader

12.11.2008 | By |

Rated: R for some scenes of sexuality and nudity.
Release Date: 2008-12-10
Starring: Bernhard Schlink, David Hare
Director(s):
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Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.thereader-movie.com/

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The Reader
I Am Legend (Wide Screen Edition)
Mack Chico
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By

2008/12/09 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

I Am Legend (Wide Screen Edition)

12.9.2008 | By |

Rating: 3.5

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence.
Release Date: 2007-12-14
Starring: Akiva Goldsmith, Mark Protosevich
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://wwws.warnerbros.es/iamlegend/?frompromo=movies_maintouts_iamlegend

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Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who?
Alex Florez
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2008/12/09 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who?

12.9.2008 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: G
Release Date: 2008-03-14
Starring: Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul
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Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.horton.es/

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The Dark Knight
Alex Florez
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2008/12/09 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

The Dark Knight

12.9.2008 | By |

Rating: 4.5

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and some menace.
Release Date: 2009-01-23
Starring: Bob Kane, Christopher Nolan
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Country:USA
Official Website: http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/

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At two and one half hours, “The Dark Knight” is a great muddle of equivocal morality masquerading as a superhero skein.  Helmer Christopher Nolan’s sequel to “Batman Begins” falls victim to a curse common to attempts to build a franchise:  It has no compelling story.
 
Instead, it throws a filmmaker’s bag of tricks at a screenplay that is too long by an hour.  The tricks come in the form of plot twists, largely incomprehensible because their visual clues are buried under special effects and their dialogue clues are buried under a pumped up soundtrack.  That is too bad, because stripped of its silly subplots, “The Dark Knight” has the germ of a satisfying comic book flick.
 
The first rule of superheroes is that the superhero is the guy with the super powers.  Civilians do not have super powers.  If they did, there would be no need for a superhero.  This is where “The Dark Knight” falls down.  Too many civilians survive explosions, car accidents, and assassination attempts that should have killed them because they don’t have super powers.
 
The plot is roughly this:  After cleaning up Gotham Batman (Christian Bale) is having second thoughts.  Using criminal tactics to catch criminals may turn him into one.  He also wants to marry his love interest, Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, terribly miscast).  She won’t have him until he gives up the cape and mask.  Into this frittata toss The Joker (the late Heath Ledger) with a scheme to take over what is left of Gotham’s mob headed by Salvatore Maroni (convincingly played by Eric Roberts).  Add handsome crusading DA Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) who gains the confidence of Batman and alter ego Bruce Wayne, and you have the recipe for the end of the Batman saga.  Predictably The Joker is the fly in Batman’s retirement ointment.  Without Batman’s help, cops can’t prevent the agent of chaos from turning Gotham into a war zone – and from keeping Batman in costume.
 
Ledger’s Joker is totally competent, but in Jack Nicholson he has a tough act to follow.  He comes across more like Christian Slater in “Heathers” than the cinematic master of madness.  With the exceptions of veterans Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, performances fall victim to special effects, some of which are cheesy.  Even the once sleek Batmobile now looks like Hummer that has been sat on by an elephant.
 
With a PG-13 rating, nothing in “The Dark Knight” is objectionable to children, but it could bore them to death.

Four Christmases
Mike Pierce
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2008/12/05 at 12:00am

Reviews

Four Christmases

12.5.2008 | By |

Rated: PG-13 for some sexual humor and language.
Release Date: 2008-11-26
Starring: Matt Allen, Caleb Wilson
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.fourchristmasesmovie.com/

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Four Christmases

It’s still the #1 movie at the box office. What movie am I talking about you may ask?? Four Christmases, starring Vince Vaughn and “Sexy Cute” Reese Witherspoon. It has a great cast such as Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, John Voight, Tim McGraw, Jon Favreau, and more!

The movie starts off with a couple who are totally in love, but soon find out  that they REALLY don’t KNOW each other. The Christmas holidays roll around…instead of hanging with their family, they decide to lie…once again…to plan a trip to Fiji…but the weather messes everything up so they are forced to visit their 4 seperate families…and these families are nuts.

If you happen to “family hop” during the holidays – you’ll definately can relate. (lol)

You sure laugh a lot and during these hard times – we all could use it.

Frost/Nixon
Mack Chico
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By

2008/12/05 at 12:00am

Reviews

Frost/Nixon

12.5.2008 | By |

Rated: R for some language.
Release Date: 2008-12-05
Starring: Peter Morgan
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.frostnixon.com/

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Frost/Nixon

David Frost, a british entertainment interviewer obtains a confession that no one else can from President Richard Nixon on prime-time TV in the 1970’s. That is the plot line from ‘Frost/Nixon’, a compelling retelling of that story and the consequences it had on each one of them after that historic broadcast.

The film, in essence, is a direct shot by shot remake of the London and Broadway versions of the play. The Broadway version I saw in 2007 was powerful and dramatic and showcased the acting mastery of one Frank Langella (Nixon), who went on to win a Tony award for his portrayal of the late President. Langella didn’t then, nor now, look or sound much like the late 37th President, yet, through sheer force of performance, he embodies Nixon. Logically speaking, given the theater award, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be among the candidates for an Oscar award as well. Michael Sheen (Frost) was definitely the supporting actor here playing off the instincts and skill of Langella.

In essence, the movie is a about two people who are losing their social and market value in society and their need to regain it. That plot pales in comparison to the true centerpiece mano a mano interview both men have. The stage and film version invest all their time and effort into making this, “the clash of the century”, “the dual of death”, into the definitive verbal battle in political and media history.

Even though liberties are taken with the facts to create moments of dramatic tension throughout the film, Frost/Nixon manages to capture a glimpse into the life of one of the most controversial figures in the history of American politics.

The acting performances is what director Ron Howard (The DaVinci Code, Apollo 13) bets the house on. He managed to obtain convincing and captivating performances, yet everything else was secondary for him and it showed.

If you’re not into politics nor the media industry, then Frost/Nixon won’t titillate you that much. If the contrary applies, especially after experiencing the energy and results of our recent presidential campaign, this film is just the right dose of politics you’re looking for.

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