01.25.2013 | By Jack Rico |
*Updated December 2025
I must say that as soon as I heard that British B-actor Jason Statham was teaming up with the Puerto Rican diva Jennifer Lopez in an action flick called Parker, my mouth dropped in reaction to seeing one of the worst casting selections done in recent Hollywood history. Read More
01.22.2013 | By SBC Staff |
This week from Miami, on the Enrique Santos Morning Show, Jack Rico reviews the new DVD/Bluray releases: the action thriller END OF WATCH with Michael Peña, the best doc of 2012 SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN , and the charming, but sexual R comedy FOR A GOOD TIME… CALL.
You can hear our DVD review segment in Miami on the ‘Enrique Santos Morning Show‘ every Tuesday at 7:25 AM and 9:25 AM by Univision Radio ‘MIX98.3FM’ in Miami or the global network by visiting: http: / / www.enriquesantos.com/
01.18.2013 | By Jack Rico |
*Updated December 2025
The Last Stand is exactly what action movies from the 1980s felt like: fun escapism that puts a smile on your face. So far, this is the most fun movie from the first few weeks of January. From the looks of it, only Sly Stallone’s Bullet to the Head might equal it in entertainment value anytime soon. Read More
01.17.2013 | By Karen Posada |
I would say that ‘Mama’ which is presented by executive producer Guillermo Del Toro is not rightly labeled as a horror film because it is more of a fantasy and supernatural thriller than it is scary. Argentinian director Andrés Muschietti made a short film in Spanish in 2008 titled ‘Mamá’ along with his sister Barbara Muschietti, Del Toro saw something he liked and convinced them to make it into a full-length film. The film approaches what we’ve come to expect from Del Toro such as beauty even in the darkest scenes, an interesting plot, and weird supernatural characters. The film is entertaining in its own right, but for those that are looking to get spooked, you will only be startled and will be taken in a completely different direction. Read More
12.24.2012 | By Karen Posada |
I bow down to Quentin Tarantino for having given us some of the best movies I’ve ever seen. From Inglourious Basterds to Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2, his filmography is a collection of favorites, and now comes Django Unchained. This film, also written and directed by the master himself, has his name written all over it. Read More
12.21.2012 | By Jack Rico |
This Is 40, the sequel to Knocked Up, is an honest, mature effort by its director Judd Apatow to tell an unfiltered, comedic look inside the life of a married couple with kids who are about to hit the “dreaded” 40 years of age. Whether directing or producing, Apatow still carries a reputation for creating comedies, often mixed with raunchiness, that become instant classics. Which is why it is disappointing that This Is 40 is his second film that doesn’t reach superlative heights (the first being Funny People). Between hit-and-miss laughs, an obvious lack of rhythm, and an overlong duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes, the movie never quite gels as a whole. Read More
12.17.2012 | By SBC Staff |
‘The Guilt Trip’ completely took me by surprise, I actually enjoyed it because it’s funny, sweet and it has an easy way of connecting with the public. No matter where you’re from or how old you are you can relate to this movie because of the relationship between mother and son. Most mothers treat us like children, give us advice and love us even when we are mean to them and that’s where this movie strikes gold. This is almost like your typical buddy comedy, but with a son and mother duo, which is the fun twist.
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Andy Brewster (Seth Rogen) is a scientist who decides to have a cross-country road trip to sell his latest invention. He first lands at mom’s house, Joyce (Barbra Streisand) who’s happy to have her baby boy home. Unexpectedly Andy decides to bring his mom on his weeklong road trip, where they’ll get on each other’s nerves, but will also get closer.
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This movie has plenty of laugh out loud moments, because we’ll all be able to say “my mom does that same thing!†The situations will make you nod in agreement and they will also make you feel embarrassed for poor Andy, but will also make you feel bad for lonely Joyce. The interesting thing about this comedy is that it also gets emotional; our mother is one of the people that pushes our buttons and we are irritated by easily, but no matter what they still love us and we are reminded of that here. You will probably be a little more considerate to mom after this and you will just want to call her or go on a road trip with her shortly after.
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This isn’t the funniest movie of the year, but it certainly is one of the funniest movies these two have done in a while and director’s Anne Fletcher‘s unlikely pairing is what makes it special. It gets more fun after the first half, where Andy feels more at ease and let’s loose. Scriptwriter Dan Fogelman based this film on his own experiment of taking a two-week road trip with his mom across country. Streisand is the strongest part of the film, naturally behaving like a mom being funny and emotional all at once. Rogen takes a little while to find his footing, acting awkwardly at the beginning of the film, but making us laugh with his sarcasm.
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There are some fun cameos throughout the film, which complement the story. The movie is entertaining because it’s unpredictable and you’re wondering what this pair will run into next. It reminds us that our parents have their own lives, problems and are wise even though we don’t often take their advice. This is an enjoyable one to take your mom to or your teens; it’s a good feel family movie for the holiday season.Â
12.17.2012 | By Karen Posada |
‘The Impossible’ or ‘Lo Imposible’ is a well-crafted natural disaster movie that’s touching, beautiful and definitely haunting. Just from seeing the trailer you know you will need tissues for this one, you would probably need a lot more tissues if the trailer didn’t give most of the movie away. Most films that are based on real life are able to get to the audience and this one certianly is the tear-jerker of the year. The Tsunami this film is based on hit South East Asia 8 years ago, although it might sound like it was a while ago this film makes it feel much more recent because the images and plot are so haunting. One thing to remember though is that wanting to keep so close to the real facts limits the story in itself.
12.14.2012 | By Jack Rico |
Finally, the long awaited prequel to “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Hobbit” is finally here. Is it worth going to see? Yes, but… Is it worth paying $20 to see its industry changing 3D? Yes, but… Ok, because of it’s 2hrs and 49 minutes duration will the length make you snore at some point? Maybe… So what’s the deal here!? Bottom line is this: If you like epic fantasy adventure, especially the ones like LOTR, then you will enjoy “The Hobbit”. If you’re not into any of these genre films, you’re going to be annoyed and irate at the experience.
This first of three movies, “The Hobbit” focuses on the life of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), a Hobbit who journeys to the Lonely Mountain with a vigorous group of Dwarves to reclaim a treasure stolen from them by the dragon Smaug.
Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who at one point was directing this movie, is now the co-writer and has gifted us with a fun action-adventure tale full of imagination and ingenuity. Regrettably, there is excessive character developments in the first half hour that are just too mentally fatiguing, but from there, it’s a slow, steady climb to a rousing climax. Helping the proceedings is the action sequences that seem to be relentless, and in certain instances, overwhelming. Fortunately, del Toro writes in some spots to allow “breaks” to catch our wind and re-immerse ourselves in the plot.
On the other side, director Peter Jackson, director of the previous three “The Lord of the Rings” (LOTR) films, has improved the visuals from his former trilogy, but not necessarily the pacing. Nevertheless, his use of special effects is a crowning cinematic achievement of epic proportions worth watching.
The LOTR movies are targeted for everyone, but in particular to young adult men. It seems that the more adult working moviegoer, male or female, are not very attracted to anything these films have to offer, especially its duration. They find it too long and complicated to keep up with them. Unfortunately, they are right and Jackson would do better, in broadening the audience, if he did make these films shorter and subtracted some of the excess characters. I’m sure Tolkien purists would disagree.
“The Hobbit” no longer carries the hype status that it’s predecessors did back in the early 2000’s, much perhaps because this is the fourth go around, as opposed to a new vision for fantasy that the previous LOTR films promised, yet director Peter Jackson does promise some new tricks up his sleeve.
New to the mix is Jackson’s much talked about visuals shot in 48fps and HFR 3D. What does that all mean? It means a higher, clearer resolution of image and a more brighter sharper 3D. This is all true except that the film ceases to look like film and assumes the appearance of television video. Moviegoers are divided on this. Old school cats are not going to like the way “The Hobbit” looks, but the LED TV owners aren’t going to mind it at all, since it is what they’re used to seeing it at home. Ultimately, there is nothing like seeing film as part of the theatrical movie experience (I own a plasma for the purposes of conserving the film aspect).
Despite the new 3D which looks like LED TV imagery, the action is the centerpiece of the film. It is an assault on the senses and it is much more abundant than the previous three.
The movie is a fine collection to the pantheon of the LOTR series and purists will definitely enjoy this prequel.
12.5.2012 | By Karen Posada |
*Updated December 2025
There have been countless movies made about star athletes that have revolutionized certain sports. Most of them have such a phenomenal life story that they deserve to have their life captured on film. Unfortunately, Heleno, which captures some of the life of one of Brazil’s top soccer players, Heleno de Freitas, doesn’t fall under this category, as it is a tragic yet unextraordinary story. Read More
