Control Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Control Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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Control follows the true life story of punk rock singer Ian Curtis of Joy Division, covering his troubles with love, music, drugs, and epilepsy that led to his untimely death in May of 1980. It's based on his wife Deborah Curtis' autobiography Touching from a Distance to make sure everything is accurately displayed on screen.

Shot in beautiful black and white with magnificent clarity and carefully edited, this slick portrait of a musician's unfortunate life might be masterful for those who are vaguely familiar with the band Joy Division, but everyone else will probably find it ambitiously clichéd in its character insight. It becomes just like every other musician's rise and fall from fame. Become famous, get addicted to drugs, and die at an early age. It's nothing we haven't seen seven or eight times before and becomes dull quickly.

I'm not claiming this is a bad film. Amongst all the boredom (and there is quite a bit of it), there is a low-energized masterpiece in disguise. It just never takes off that disguise to make itself known. Sam Riley puts his heart into this role and is absolutely phenomenal and Samantha Morton does exceptionally well. The direction is sharp and the acting is great, so why does it feel so boring at times?

I don't want to disgruntle the fanbase of Joy Division and want to make it clear that I have no desire to put down this remarkable legend. I just feel that the film would've been much better with a more interesting take on Ian Curtis' lifestyle that draws in those who don't even know the guy. This is where director Anton Corbijn and screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh stepped into a rut.

This gloominess has some serious hang-time and the film in general doesn't seem to have anything genuinely important to say; it's an unpleasant and dark film devoid of joy.

This punk rock music isn't my cup of tea either, which doesn't help at all. Joy Division's songs all start off great, but then become flat and gives off a depressing vibe. This is a movie that drains all blithe thoughts from its viewers and leaves them isolated under a muggy rain cloud of sorrow. You can skip this film and still live a perfectly happy life. 2/5 stars

Total Recall Movie Review by Nived

Total Recall Movie Review by Nived

One of the things I love about Paul Verhoven’s movies is that they come with zero ounces of pretense. In 1990’s Total Recall, the Dutch director famously known for his ultra-violence and gratuitous nudity, brought Philip K. Dick’s short story, We Can Remember It For You Wholesale, to the big screen. In the future, memories can be simply uploaded into the subconscious; a perfect, substitute for the real thing (and apparently faster and cheaper), and in the case of Quaid (Schwarzenegger), a construction worker who has fleeting dreams of visiting Mars, getting a memory implant sounds like an ideal choice. Things get complicated during the implantation, and soon finds himself on the run from dangerous killers who want to take him out. Turns out Quaid is actually a spy who was on a mission on Mars when things went wrong and his memory was erased—implanted; with new, fake memories. As Quaid searches for the truth, which brings him back to Mars, the possibility that this is all just a dream inside his mind is always a possibility.

Has Quaid’s memory been restored, and is he finishing out his mission?, or is this all just a dream as real and vivid as life itself? The screenplay, by Alien writers Ronald Shusett and Dan O’Bannon, never quite reveals itself as to what is real and what isn’t. Which is a smart move, and unlike some, I don’t think finding out the truth is so much important as it is to maintain the illusion that anything is possible; it seems to go along with Philip K. Dick’s mindset of never quite being able to know for sure what to make of reality. But what is certain is that Total Recall is a splashy, comic book-like blood-bath of an actioner, with a sci-fi backdrop, non-stop excitement, an absolutely relentless pace and a fun sense of humor, and it’s one of Verhoeven and Schwarzenegger’s best.

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After being bitten by a genetically altered dragonfly, high school loser Rick Riker develop superhuman abilities like incredible strength and armored skin. Rick decides to use his new powers for good and becomes a costumed crime fighter known as "The Dragonfly." However, standing in the way of his destiny is the villainous Lou Landers. After an experiment gone wrong, Lou develops the power to steal a person's life force and in a dastardly quest for immortality becomes the supervillain, "The Hourglass." With unimaginable strength, unbelievable speed and deeply uncomfortable tights, will the Dragonfly be able to stop the sands of The Hourglass and save the world? More importantly, will we stop laughing long enough to notice?

My Blueberry Nights Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

My Blueberry Nights Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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If your unfamiliar with Kar Wai Wong's style and haven't seen any of his pictures yet, his first English language film My Blueberry Nights isn't a bad way to start a rental frenzy and get to know his style. His previous films include As Tears Go By, Days of Being Wild, Fallen Angels, In the Mood for Love, and Happy Together.

Elizabeth (Norah Jones) has had a bad night. She found out her boyfriend is cheating on her, got mugged on the subway, and has trouble getting a car (or even a cab for that matter). But thankfully the generous owner of a diner in New York is happy to comfort her. Still empty with sorrow, Elizabeth journeys across country to find a path to follow unaware that the rightful path is guided by blueberry pies.

The great cast certainly shows a stupendous amount of charisma and becomes the needed component for the interesting script and romantic energy to be lifted beyond boundaries. Unlike most romantic films, this one has such a distinguished chemistry between Jude Law and Norah Jones that (despite from being distant throughout the second act) provide a sort of dignity when finally reunited. It's an elegant, pure, and stylish portrait of a woman suffering from a broken heart and a man whose life is solely dedicated to baking pies to flourish his love for her. It is one of the years better films.

The score is so moving and the cinematography is so spectacular that I can almost guarantee a nomination in one of the two categories come Oscar time. It's a film that lavishes itself with beauty and romance (a seemingly perfect combination) and then even provides an insight on life and the meaning of true love. Lets not go without saying it does have its flaws, most notably an uneven pace. There are moments of straining heartbreak, sudden acts of violence, and touching romance. With all this melodrama intact, it still manages to get specific points through and looks beautiful doing so.

It has the look and feel of an independent film (The constant use of slow motion, the unique style of camera work, and the occasional insight of the number of days Elizabeth has been looking for true meaning to life) and uses this to its full effect to nourish an interesting story. I like it about as much as I like blueberry pie. And you know what, I happen to like blueberry pie. Be sure to pick up a DVD copy when available in stores July, 1st. The special features include Making My Blueberry Nights, Still Gallery, Q&A With Director Wong Kar Wai and a Theatrical Trailer. 4.5/5 stars

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

The star studded and painfully unfunny "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins" stars Martin Lawrence, James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, Joy Brant, Cedric the Entertainer, Nichole Ari Parker, Michael Clark Duncan, Mike Epps and Mo'Nique. It's written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee (Undercover Brother, Roll Bounce).

Roscoe Jenkins (Martin Lawrence) is a well respected talk show host who leaves Los Angeles to reconcile with his family in the Deep South. Rather than being a pleasant reunion with his family, the trip becomes a bruising disaster and a rival competition with a childhood nemesis.

Welcome home Roscoe Jenkins! Or should I say welcome to the dusty, dim collection of DVDs that I will never watch again. It is clear that this is direct-to-DVD material with an A-list cast worthy of funnier matter. Lets cut this game of spot the laughs short and just guide this overwrought bag of mixed emotions and unfunny gags to the dumpster where it belongs. When the film isn't introducing us to irritating characters and shoving good morals down our throats it's just an erratic execution of bodily harm, an unnecessary display of pimped out fashion and pea-brained juvenile antics.

The cast tries hard, but the frantic attempts at making the implausible plausible and possibly jerking a couple forced laughs out of the helpless audience becomes tired early. And when things finally take a quick turn for the better in the second half, it instantly goes back to the same dull fashion that cluttered the agonizing first half. The only true minor chuckles came from the family clown, Mike Epps' Cousin Reggie, who uses his usual goofy style to make some sort of entertainment happen. The only part that remotely resorts to fun is the obstacle course scene, and even this scene feels childish. I never thought I'd say this but more gross out gags and potty humor would have at least been at level with this type of comedy.

Basically, this so-called "comedy" depends of Martin Lawrence's facial expressions and Mike Epps' foolish personality to get by. Problem is Mike Epps isn't always funny and, while Martin Lawrence does make funny faces, he can't make enough of them to bring consistent laughs in an overwelcomed running time. This material doesn't deserve such a talented cast. In fact, a cast of unknowns and a direct-to-DVD release would have been sufficient. Other than it being painful to watch, this is a harmless, instantly forgettable, and ultimately flustered comedy absent of any true humor. Just skip it and you'll thank me later. 1/5 stars

The Happening Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

The Happening Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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"The Happening" stars Mark Walberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Ashlyn Sanchez, and the dreaded Spencer Breslin. It's directed by M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, The Village, Unbreakable and Signs).

This paranoid apocalyptic thriller centers on a couple named Elliot and Alma (Mark Walberg and Zooey Deschanel) and a little girl (Ashlyn Sanchez) on the run from an neurotoxin in the air. Many theories about how this neurotoxin became present in the air, but all of these are just theories. But one thing is certain, it's happening.

Critics aren't being fair about M. Night Shyamalan's newest thriller "The Happening". It does switch gears from being a creepy and intriguing thriller, to being an intentionally goofy and silly ovation to paranoid thrillers of the 60's like "The Birds". However, this works out surprisingly well for some shudder some moments, occasional humor and the well executed finale. This is M. Night Shyamalan's best film in years, topping his two previous films with ease and winking its eye along the way. Shyamalan sure knows how to please the audience. Even those who dislike the movie, the death of Spencer Breslin is sure to bring a guilty smile to anyone's face.

The acting wasn't as bad as I thought, shifting from mediocre to sub par levels. It's not Mark Walberg and his impaired eyebrows who fails for the entire act, but Zooey Deschanel who fails completely with her shallow performance. She may have beautiful eyes, but her character has absolutely no soul. The concept some might come off as bit silly, but in retrospect this one of Shyamalan's best ideas and his execution (though not completely polished) gives off a Hitchcock-esque vibe. Unlike "The Village", its ending is complete and unlike "Lady in the Water", its notion is something that will be admired.

Like a neurotoxin in the air, this one might leave a permanent effect on litterbugs around the world. The intentional humor is being confused with unintentional humor, giving the film a bad reputation. Yes, there is bad acting present and occasionally dense line reading. But In the end, M. Night Shyamalan makes the ordinary extraordinary and does so with what seems like a new approach by adding comic relief to his signature style. I see a lot of talent behind this young filmmaker and his recovery from the embarrassing "Lady in the Water" exceeded my expectations by a landslide. I can now say with complete confidence that I am waiting for his next idea to be scripted, only hoping that it will be just as enjoyable as this one. 3.5/5 stars

Blade Runner Movie Review by Nived

Blade Runner Movie Review by Nived


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Blade Runner is Ridley Scott’s second foray into science fiction, and it’s undoubtedly one of my top three favorites in the genre; next to Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Scott’s original Alien. Based on the Philip K. Dick novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the film stars Harrison Ford as Deckard, as a detective (AKA “Blade Runner”) who specializes in hunting down and terminating androids (AKA “Replicants”) who look human, and have human implanted memories. Several replicants, including the sexy Pris (Daryl Hannah) and psychotic Roy (Rutger Hauer), have gone haywire and are searching for their creator (a metaphor for man's search for God) to extend their shortly encoded lifespans. As Deckard begins the hunt, his eye is immediately caught by a special replicant named Rachel (Sean Young), and even begins to wonder if he too might actually be a replicant.

Infused with a deeply dark film-noir tone, Ridley Scott brings Dick’s novel to fruition by layering into the journey philosophical subtexts and a highly captivating production design, which realizes the near-future of Los Angeles; looking more like it’s set on another planet, Blade Runner, feels and looks alien, which is an interesting playground for such a philosophical quest. Who are we? How can we know for sure? And what does it mean to be “more human than human”? The beautiful, yet grimy and smoke-filled scenery of Blade Runner, coupled with its trace-like musical score, provided by Vangelis, the film is—at least in my eyes—the birthplace of cinematic cyberpunk. There are several versions of the film available; a theatrical cut (with a more upbeat conclusion), a re-cut “Director’s Cut” of the film, and an actual Director’s prefer version simply called “The Final Cut”, it’s this version that I highly recommend checking out. Released in 2007, this version has been updated with more enhanced special effects and remastered for superior picture and sound quality. This is sci-fi at its best; thought-provoking and thrilling in the best way possible—visionary.

The Hammer Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

The Hammer Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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"The Hammer" stars Adam Carolla, Oswaldo Castillo, Harold House Moore, and Heather Juergensen. The story was written by Adam Carolla himself and it's directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld (Legally Blond 2: Red, White & Blonde).

Jerry Ferro (Adam Carolla) is a washed-up boxer who becomes drained of all motives when he losses his job and girlfriend on his 40th Birthday. But when training at the gym to relieve some of his stress, a professional boxing trainer notices his "Heavy Left" and thinks he would be perfect as a sparing partner for his best boxer Robert Brown (Harold House Moore).

The story line is simple and everything works effortlessly thanks to Adam Carolla's clean and pastroal approach. This has very appropriate line of likable characters, some intelligently vibrant humor, and a surprisingly touching story with an unusually big heart. What makes the film work so well is the fitting cast, especially Jerry's room-mate Oswaldo's mispronounced words that are sure to bring the laughs. It might not be oscar worthy or even a classic, but it is a hidden gem that I would consider a must-see for its intellect and irresistible glee.

The camera work might be a little sketchy during the scenes of brisk dialog, but the boxing scenes are shot with skill and you have Adam Carolla to stitch everything up. This film explores many areas of melodrama (including friendship and romance), enhancing the effectiveness of the film and guides it to the heartfelt conclusion that is sure to bring a tremendous amount of chi to its viewers. It's sports comedy that stands on its own level of greatness. Something unworthy of its R-rating and deserves a wider audience, considering its strong messages and unsoiled brand of humor.

Never too violent and consistently funny, its appropriate style is something to be cherished. Proof that comedies don't have to resort to potty drollery or the occasional vulgarity that is overloading Hollywood's sense of humor. In my opinion, this might be the most influential comedy in years and I say that will extreme confidence. A seemingly effortless attempt at making us laugh and still succeeds in doing so. This is an amazing feat. 4.5/5 stars

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Shoot 'Em Up Movie Review by Nived

Shoot 'Em Up Movie Review by Nived

What’s in a name? In the case of Shoot’em Up—everything. It promises outrageous action and delivers it in spades from its absurd opening to its grinningly silly ending. To take it seriously in any way possible is not the point, in fact, quite the opposite. Shoot’em Up is a full-blown cartoon: filled with silly violence that’s as goofy and relentless as the intentionally (this is the key word) cheesy and corny one-liners and puns that are fired out as often as the freshly fired rounds. It’s a complete farce on brainless action movies, and in its title it absolutely relishes that fact. There is a plot thinly layered into the mayhem, and there are characters; also thinly developed, but both are only developed without it ever obstructing or slowing down the chaos.

Clive Owen stars as Mr. Smith, a man who gets himself in the crosshairs of thug and all-round slimy “bad guy”, Hertz, played with a sniveling grin by Paul Giamatti, and clearly loving every second of it. Smith—eating carrots and all—is literally the Bugs Bunny to Hertz’ Elmer Fudd when he helps deliver a baby (during the first of many shootouts) from a nameless woman Hertz wants to wipe out, he finds himself on the run and in constant wave of danger as he is assaulted by Hertz’ henchmen, who, you guessed it, can’t seem to shoot the side of a barn. Smith will do just about anything to protect the baby, but what is Hertz’ interest in killing the new born? That’s just the beginning, but this tale gets wackier, weirder and more ludicrous with every firefight.

What’s impressive about Shoot’em Up is how well the idea holds up during its brief, but perfectly suitable length of 86 minutes. It’s short, straight to business and lots of fun. Just don’t take ANY of it remotely serious, it wasn’t meant to be. Owen, back to saving babies after Children of Men, is great in the lead: someone with his instant charisma and silent charm is perfect for the lead, and the same can be said about Giamatti as the deliciously perverse villain, and the always sexy Monica Bellucci as DQ, the hooker (with an interesting fetish) with a heart of gold. The cast is solid in their respectfully limited parts, but they are perfect for them. The fun of Shoot’em Up is in the non-sense that it rolls around in shamelessly, and for the most part, I was laughing my ass off at how it was able to sustain it's momentum by creating new, wild situations Smith is placed in and forced to shoot his way out of; the climax of which has to be a gunfight during a skydiving freefall. It isn’t deep or complex—it’s simply not that kind of movie, but what the title promises, it more than delivers, and does so with plenty of inventive nuttiness. So, grab a beer and turn up the surround sound, because this one is strictly for the eyes and ears.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Movie Review by Nived

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Movie Review by Nived


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Although it certainly wasn't essential, this sequel to the Indiana Jones series is decent; which is both good and bad. Most of the previous Jones films easily achieved greatness, even the lesser of the original films--The Temple of Doom, was booming with pure spectacle. With The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull it struggles to not only reach greatness, let alone maintain it. Ford is reliable, as always as Dr. Indiana Jones, and much like last summer’s Live Free or Die Hard, Indiana Jones is a character whose charm and panache and skill is so entertaining and easily mesmerizing, the film still manages to work even if most of the film is stuck in third gear. A bit too much CGI gives the film a bit of a cartoonish feel (Thanks Lucas, thanks again), but I'd be willing to bet if Raiders of the Lost Ark had been made two years ago it would have looked and felt a bit like The Crystal Skull does. It's not a bad movie by any means, but it rarely reaches the same heights as the previous films, and it does feel predictable, as if Indy's back, but there's no real new hoops to jump through. It's not great, but it is pretty good, and definitely entertaining, despite the whole "by the numbers" approach to the story. Some of the new characters, like Cate Blanchett's sexy Russian villain was a great touch, and surprisingly Shia LaBeouf's Mutt (straight out of Greaser-land) works well within the story, unfortunately Ray Winstone is completely wasted with a clichéd and generally uninteresting part. I liked the incorporation of the 50's iconography, and brining Indy into the Nuclear age. Making the Russians the "bad guys" this time was an obvious choice considering the timeline being smack in the middle of the "Red Scare", and some of the surprises nearing the end I really liked and felt it was the right road to travel down. I'm sure others won't be as won over by the finale as I was. Still though, the story is pretty solid, the performances are good and there's still enough fun left in Ford to beat the pants off of those National Treasure flicks. Even the worst of Indiana Jones is better than most other films out there by a long shot.

Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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"Kung Fu Panda" stars Jack Black, Dustin Hauffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and David Cross. It's directed by Mark Osborne and Glenn Berger.

Po the Panda (Jack Black) is a shiftless and bovine character who's dream is to become a kung fu master. Although he has an eating problem and seems like the most unlikely being to become "The Dragon Warrior", he is picked by a wise turtle named Oogway. The leads Po the Panda on his quest to fulfill his dream and possibly learn how to like himself.

The wonderful background colors congruent to Chinese paintings, vivid characters with exuberant personalities, and the focused animation lead me to believe that this is the best animated film I have seen this year. Jack Black, the clown of epic proportions, shines with his cardinal charisma and extravagant voice. The rest of the cast have such an inobtrusive yet reigning approach to their characters, that their voices are nearly unrecognizable.

Like every other animated film, the story is familiar and has that moral that is either touching or insipid depending on ones point of view. Not to mention the ending is predictable. But these are things that only cynics will dwell on and kids wont even heed these problems. It has some of the best fist-to-fist action I have seen in a while and tops it off with consistent humor from the cumbersome Panda Po. Adults will laugh and the kids will be ecstatic leaving the theater. The top-notch 2D animation at the beginning of the film is impressive and the 3D animation is just as potent.

"Kung Fu Panda" is sure to be nominated for best animated picture of the year. This is more of a homage to great karate flicks like "The Karate Kid" rather than being a cliché. A tribute rather than a trite expression. This lovable and adorable Panda might spawn a sequel and become the next big animated trilogy and I wouldn't be surprised one bit. 4.5/5 stars

You Don't Mess With The Zohan Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

You Don't Mess With The Zohan Movie Review by Derek_Fleek


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"You Don't Mess With The Zohan" stars Adam Sandler, Emmanuelle Chriqui, John Turturro, and co-stars Nick Swardson and Rob Schneider. It's directed by Dennis Dugan (Happy Gilmore, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry), and written by Adam Sandler, Robert Smigel, and Judd Apatow.

An Israeli counter-terrorist who genuinely goes by The Zohan (Adam Sandler) fakes his death in order to fulfill his dream to "make the world silky smooth". He becomes Scrappy Coco, a sex-craved hairstylist who attracts women of all age. But once his identity is discovered, he is determined not to fall back into the world of crime and destruction.

The Zohan is certainly a funny character, performing crass antics and displaying his bulging bottom-half. These characteristics that make up the outrageous individual seem to be the funniest moments in his latest film. The aiding cast is composed of lifeless characters with unfunny lines pertaining to goats and neosporin. I think that there might have been initial awkwardness between Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler, being that this is their first time making a film together.

Adam Sandler needed a more subordinate supporting cast in this one. Every scene absent of his protuberant crotch and disco movements relied on some sort of humorous line-reading from a corroborative cast, all of which fell flat. These barren jokes don't go as well as they were intended to and become repetitive and tired. The Zohan character is a romp and adds to Sandler's line of "funny" characters, but one funny character can't save the entirety of a film. Earning a very mature PG-13 rating for the outrageously crude humor, this is one that you steer your children far from and tend to a more family friendly outing.

Unlike Adam Sandler's previous work, this one lacks even the smallest of heart. This might be the result of the collaboration of Apatow and Sandler. If so, lets hope their next attempt at synergy will be more pleasing than this one. Not to say that I didn't enjoy myself, I was just expecting more from the SNL affiliate who created Canteen Boy and Opera Man. The accent, the antics, and the look of Zohan assist this one-schtick comedy, saving it from being the first unfunny Sandler guided film and making an addition to sporadically funny Sandler guided films. 2.5/5 stars

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Universal Studios Home Entertainment presents Welcome home Roscoe Jenkins.
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Leading an all-star comedy cast, Martin Lawrence is talk-show sensation RJ Stevens, who left behind his modest Southern upbringing and family name to transform into a self-help guru dispensing his Team of Me philosophy to millions of adoring fans. With a reality-TV-star fianc?e and money to burn, there,s no piece of the Hollywood dream RJ hasn't achieved. After his parents request that he come home for their 50th wedding anniversary, the TV host packs up his 10-year-old son and diva bride-to-be and heads back to Georgia. It's a chance to prove to his family that he's no longer the awkward kid they relentlessly picked on. At least, that's the plan, But when his crazy, lovable family calls him on his big-city attitude and challenges him at every turn, RJ is forced to take a hard look at the man he's become. He may be a superstar in L.A., but he's just one of the guys in Dry Springs as folks say Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins.

Invisible Target Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Invisible Target Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

"Invisible Target" stars Nicholas Tse (The Promise), Jaycee Chan (Son of Jackie Chan), Shawn Yue (Internal Affairs), and Jacky Wu Jing (Kill Zone). It's written, produced, and directed by Benny Chan.

After an armored car is robbed of millions in American money by a lethal mercenary gang, an apostate cop, an adolescent officer of the law, and an experienced detective must join hands in taking down the group of outlaws for both justice and revenge.

This martial arts flick is very reminiscent to every kung fu picture I have seen, making this about as derivative as you can get. Every fight scene is very familiar, dishing out the usual flips, kicks and karate chops that duplicate previous scenes explored in the film. There is more explosions and glass shattering than there is hand-to-hand fight scenes. It's just becomes loud and blaring rather than being the hardcore martial arts film it set out to be.

The stunt work was admirable and realistic most of the time, but it is hard to concentrate when your head is spinning in confusion. The storyline is convoluted with subplots and so many incoherent characters, that it ends up being much too perplexed to follow. As for Jaycee Chan, he turns out to be one of the worst fighters in the film, getting his butt-kicked more than he kicked-butt. With a limited amount of dialog and more fist-to-fist action, this would've been a much shorter and more palatable attempt at pleasing the target audience.

I really wanted to enjoy the film, but it's never really able kick its way out of being a cliche-ridden kung fu flick. The leaps from story-high buildings and the fist fights are rousing, but become weighed down with too much filler. It's like pieces of the script were thrown up into the air and where they land they stay. A scattered mess created in the matter of hitting its fan base with a diligent DVD cover. 1.5/5 stars

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A renegade cop, a young officer, and a veteran detective are thrown together to try to take down Hong Kong's most lethal mercenary gang and their ruthless leader.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Movie Review by armchaircritic

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Movie Review by armchaircritic



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Of all the summer movies approaching this year, I am confident that none will be as spectacularly mediocre as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. This movie, released almost two decades after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, is neither as bad as it could have been nor as good as it should have been.

Harrison Ford is back as Indiana Jones, the rock-'em sock-'em archaeologist who spends as much time beating up bad guys as deciphering ancient clues. Ford is an action hero in his 60s -- and the movie wisely acknowledges this -- but he still has an adventurous spirit and handles both action and humor with ease.

Unfortunately, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull falls almost immediately into a repetitive pattern: Jones gets kidnapped, fights, escapes, explores some clues, travels somewhere, gets kidnapped again, fights again, etc. This time -- 1957, to be precise -- the evil, generic, we're-fine-if-they-get-killed Nazis have been replaced by the evil, generic, we're-fine-if-they-get-killed Russians. The Russian leader is femme fatale Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), wielding a sword, sporting a Louise Brooks hairdo, and posssibly possessing psychic powers. She is in pursuit of a crystal skull which, when brought back to its place of origin, is rumored to bestow great powers. (In the meantime it frightens natives, drives some people insane, and causes ants to move away a short distance. Seriously.)

Of course, no Indiana Jones movie would be complete without sidekicks. There's Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), a 1950s punk (meaning he wears a leather jacket, combs his hair a lot, and rides a motorcycle) who wants to find the skull because the Russians kidnapped his mom so Mutt would find Indiana for help. Mom turns out to be Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen, from Raiders of the Lost Ark), who's spunky and provides sexual tension with Indiana. There's also Professor "Ox" Oxley (John Hurt), whose mind was both messed up and given knowledge by staring at the crystal skull too long. And there's British adventurer "Mac" McHale (Ray Winstone), who changes sides so often I lost interest in whether he was friend or foe.

For a movie directed be Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, Indiana Jones and the Kindgom of the Crystal Skull has surprisingly little magic to it. I didn't mind them substituting science fiction for magic, but the attempt to recreate the old-style movie serials feels less adventurous than seeing Ford jump into a bunch of generic soldiers again and again and beat them all up. Little of the swashbuckling is exciting, and quite a few action scenes are just silly (notably the swordfight while straddling two speeding jeeps, and swinging with the monkeys). This movie wasn't terrible, but it isn't memorable either.

Overall Grade: C-

Reviewed by Jonas

This review is provided by The Armchair Critic, bringing you the most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment

Princess Bride Game coming June 11

The Princess Bride Downloadable Game Trailer from PrincessBrideGame on Vimeo.

It’s finally here! Experience True Love and High Adventure with the new downloadable animated game based on the classic film The Princess Bride from Worldwide Biggies. The game will be available for download on June 11th for $19.99 on the game’s official site, www.princessbridegame.com. But don’t wait! Head to the site now to see Buttercup, Wesley and Inigo, and to see images from the game and get lots of cool stuff, like printables, a widget, and more. You can also check out behind-the-scenes footage and notes from the game’s creators by visiting the game’s official blog, www.princessbridegame.com/blog.

The Princess Bride Game combines spectacular animation with the best of casual, narrative and adventure games. Help Princess Buttercup and Westley manage life on the farm, outsmart Vizzini in Battle Of The Wits, use teamwork to survive The Fire Swamp, find hidden objects with Miracle Max, and collect inventory to storm the castle.

Interesting facts about The Princess Bride Game:
1) The game features original cast voices from Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright Penn and Wallace Shawn
2) With five fun-filled episodes including As You Wish, Battle Of The Wits, The Fire Swamp, Miracle Max and Storming The Castle, the game is really 5 games in 1!
3) The Princess Bride Game soundtrack features Interscope¹s latest girl band, Clique Girlz, and their song “Incredible.”
4) The Princess Bride Game is made for women, by women
In a world where video game development is dominated by men, some extremely talented women have come together to craft the Princess Bride Game.

Rogue Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

Rogue Movie Review by Derek_Fleek

"Rogue" stars Radha Mitchell, Michael Vartan, and Sam Worthington. It's written and directed by Greg Mclean, who's previous work was the well received and much appreciated Wolf Creek.

While on a wildlife tour, a group of tourists become the next victims of the always hungry crocodile. After crashing the tour boat on a small mud island, the group must find a way off this island before the tide reaches critical level and they all become this prehistoric beast's next meal.

Affirming that this is a better killer croc flick than "Primeval" might not be saying much, but it will inspire fans of that film to give this one a deserved look. It does have some intense scenes (i.e. the rope crossing scene) but the film can't overcome the batch uninteresting characters, the slow beginning composed of the diluted character development, and a grand finale that doesn't quite satisfy. It takes so long for something to happen, one might be drained of all patience waiting for an attack.

Being a fan of "Lake Placid", I will have to say that this wasn't the greatest killer croc flick I have seen. "Lake Placid" was a fun movie because of it's great cast and likable characters (very important for horror flicks), proving that a movie doesn't have to be great or even scary to be a more entertaining experience. However, there are a couple of scenes with very impressive electronic puppetry and lifelike CGI work that I will certainly acknowledge and not once was acting a problem. But these characters are so one dimensional that even good performers couldn't pry out any form of charisma.

Never once is this film dumbed-down by any witless humor, which helps the film maintain its intensity during scenes of peril. These are the scenes I enjoyed the most, although I was losing patience waiting for them. Only one character had a small amount of personality and it isn't long before he meets his fate. Hardcore fans of horror movies can't possibly overlook the flaws, but will appreciate the top-notch special effects laid out for an eyebrow-raising and jaw-dropping experience. 2.5/5 stars