Slow month for Movies

Hey gang, sorry you haven’t seen much in the way of reviews in a while. December seems to be a pretty slow month for new movies. And with the Holiday season approaching fast we are also busy with the jobs that pay us sweet sweet money to buy things (the true nature of the season). We will put up a few picks for Holiday Movies, that we have come to enjoy over the years with a snapshot of what it’s about. So you have that to look forward to, as well as Sherlock Holmes and Avatar due out on the big screen and we’ll try and get some DVD reviews up for these:

15th – The Hangover
15th – Inglourious Bastards - previous review
22nd – District 9  - previous review
22nd – Extract
29th – Jennifer’s Body - previous review

New to DVD…Christian Bale Yelling, I mean Terminator: Salvation

Terminator: Salvation (Christian Bale Yelling) is out on DVD today…is it worth going to rent? Check out what we had to say back in August when we went to see it on the big screen…My ears still hurt.

 TERMINATOR: SALVATION  2.5 STARS

Boondock Saints 2: All Saints Day – Reviewed by Tyler – 3.5 Stars

FUCK….ASS! Thats a lot of Racism and Homophobia

Well its 10 years later and the follow-up to the cult classic movie Boondock Saints is finally here, but to what cost?? and was it worth the wait??? I for one loved the Boondock Saints, it was a great movie that seemed to have what most people look for in a movie, and with one of the best endings in a movie it was a long wait for the sequel…But now it’s here. The movie takes place 8 years after the first (I donno why not just 10) and focuses on the MacManus brothers returning from hiding out in Ireland to track down and kill the people responsible for the death of a well-loved priest and made to look like they did it.

Now, I will say this up front… This is a sequel to a great cult classic, and in my opinion cannot be made better than the first, think as if they wanted to do Pulp Fiction 2, lame I know. So please don’t go in thinking that this will be a million times better than the first. BS2 was a good movie and I liked a lot of it however it just felt like a copy of the first, the way it was filmed and the interactions all the characters was kind of a rip off of the old script. In this movie we do get to see some back story on how the MacManus brothers and their father got to where they are today, but even still it was pretty vague and somewhat confusing. There just wasn’t much original about this movie in comparison to the first, aside from a trailer park (you’ll understand if you see it).

The movies action and shoot ‘em up scenes we’re pretty good and fun (as long as you keep science out of your head) and there was a lot of decent comedy throughout the film. It was great to see almost all of the original actors in this movie and with a few new ones. However the best part of the movie, for me, was the ending. I was completely surprised and happy to watch the last few minutes, aside from how I feel about the looks of Boondock Saints 3: Bustin’ Out.

 

3.5 Stars*

 

• ½ star for solid 2 hours and a happy ending

New Moon – Reviewed by Kathi – 2.5 stars

OMG, it’s finally out!

I really don’t think that this film needs any sort of setup since, for some reason, it is the most anticipated one of the year; but, for the six of you who aren’t aware of all that is “Twilight”, here goes…

“New Moon”, based on the second novel from Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series, continues the can they be together/can’t they be together vampire – human struggle of Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart).  The majority of the film deals with Bella’s struggle to come to grips in a world without Edward and forge a new relationship with Jacob.

With a new director, Chris Weitz, a larger budget, and a few additions, namely Jacob Black’s (Taylor Lautner) pecs, {which, on a side note ladies, if  you blink, you won’t miss because apparently there is some unwritten rule that if you’re a werewolf, the only attire permissible is knee length jean cut-offs even in the rain.  Who knew?}  the end result is very similar to “Twilight”; the movie drags on and then abruptly ends.  There was a bit more substance to this film which made it a somewhat more bearable; but, was definitely lacking a fabulous script and talented actors.  Having not read the books, I can only go on hearsay from reputable sources; but allegedly, they were not literary masterpieces to begin with; rather, more along the lines of “Sweet Valley High”.  Based on that rather significant fact, you can’t create something that wasn’t there to begin with.  Kudos to the team for putting its best foot forward.

Kristen Stewart gives another compellingly one-dimensional performance in her quest to not only “see” Edward and save him from the Volturi, but also to further her relationship with Jacob who turns out to be a werewolf and Edward’s enemy.    What ever will she do?  How can she possibly choose?  Can she not find a regular guy who isn’t a monster?  I mean really, what are the odds?

For non-Twi-hards the movie isn’t worth the hype; however, for those who have pledged their allegiance to all things Meyer, think Robert Pattinson is the greatest thing since sliced bread, and made their pilgrimage to the Pacific Northwest, you won’t be disappointed.  The angst and brooding lust is ever present in Bella’s relationships with Edward and Jacob.  It delivers all that can be expected and a momentous cliff-hanger ending that will be answered in only a few short months.  It is for these people that the film was made and it will satisfy their “Twilight” hunger, if only temporarily.

2.5 stars (3.5 for the Twi-hards). Don’t forget to also check out Jonathan’s review of “New Moon“.