Topic: Tom's Random Reviews

[Tom]

Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season Seven
Year: 2009
Director:
Rating: TV-MA
Length: 317 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Larry David
Jerry Seinfeld
Jason Alexander
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Michael Richards

Plot:
Larry David leads a troubled life — he's got a high-maintenance girlfriend he'd like to dump, an ex-wife he'd love to win back, fed up friends, and offended celebrities wishing him physical harm. So how can he turn it all around?

See Larry woo a paraplegic, offend a midriff-baring assistant, bludgeon a pet swan, and let loose on nine-year-olds, all while planning the much anticipated Seinfeld reunion. Will reviving his former show bring Larry's old life back as well...or only invite more problems?

Awards:

Primetime Emmy Awards	2008	Nominated	Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series	Allison Jones
Primetime Emmy Awards	2008	Nominated	Outstanding Comedy Series	Larry David , Jeff Garlin , Gavin Polone , Alec Berg , David Mandel , Jeff Schaffer , Tim Gibbons , Erin O'Malley
Primetime Emmy Awards	2008	Nominated	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series	Shelley Berman
Primetime Emmy Awards	2008	Nominated	Outstanding Picture Editing for a Comedy Series (Single or Multi-Camera)	"The Bat Mitzvah": Steven Rasch

Extras:
Bonus Trailers
Closed Captioned
Featurettes
Interviews

My Thoughts:

The closest we will ever get to a Seinfeld reunion. Larry David (who was the co-creator and executive producer on Seinfeld) is organizing a Seinfeld reunion show. This season was the most fun since season four where Larry David was cast by Mel Brooks in a "The Producers" stage production.
We get all four Seinfeld cast members back and even Wayne Knight (Newman) and Estelle Harris (George's mother) appear. And they have rebuild two sets of the Seinfeld series. Jerry's apartment and the diner.
When they are playing the Seinfeld characters on these sets, it is hard to believe that already ten years have past since the Seinfeld finale. Seeing these scenes you can very well image them doing another full season without big differences to the old series.

Here the final few minutes of the last episode where we see the final product of the Seinfeld shooting (spoilers!):

#	Episode	Rating
01	Funkhouser's Crazy Sister
02	Vehicular Fellatio
03	The Reunion
04	The Hot Towel
05	Denise Handicap
06	The Bare Midriff
07	The Black Swan
08	Officer Krupke
09	The Table Read
10	Seinfeld

[Tom]

Title: Up
Year: 2009
Director: Pete Docter
Rating: U
Length: 96 Min.
Video: Widescreen 1.78
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Dutch: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, Flemish: Dolby Digital 5.1, Hungarian: Dolby Digital 5.1, Audio Descriptive: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles: Dutch, English, French, Hungarian

Stars:
Ed Asner
Christopher Plummer
Jordan Nagai
Bob Peterson
Delroy Lindo

Plot:
From the revolutionary minds of Pixar Animation Studios and the acclaimed director of Monsters, Inc. comes a hilariously uplifting adventure where the sky is no longer the limit.

Carl Fredricksen, a retired balloon salesman, is part rascal, part dreamer who is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. Unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time - Carl's front porch!
The world's most unlikely duo reach new heights and meet fantastic friends like Dug, a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak, and Kevin, a rare 13-foot-tall flightless bird. Stuck together in the wilds of the jungle, Carl realises that somtimes life's biggest adventures aren't the ones you set out looking for.

Up reaches new heights with a pristine picture, theatre-quality sound and hours of never-before-seen bonus features available only on Blu-ray™ Hi-Def.
It's an adventure that will send your spirits soaring!

Awards:

Academy Award	2009	Won	Best Animated Feature Film	Peter Docter
Academy Award	2009	Won	Best Music, Original Score	Michael Giacchino
Academy Award	2009	Nominated	Best Picture	Jonas Rivera
Academy Award	2009	Nominated	Best Sound Editing	Michael Silvers, Tom Myers
Academy Award	2009	Nominated	Best Writing, Original Screenplay	Bob Peterson, Pete Docter. Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Thomas McCarthy
American Film Institute Awards	2009	Won	Movies of the Year
Annie Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Animated Effects	Eric Froemling
Annie Awards	2009	Won	Best Animated Feature
Annie Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Character Animation in a Feature Production	Daniel Nguyen
Annie Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Character Design in a Feature Production	Daniel Lopez Munoz
Annie Awards	2009	Won	Best Directing in a Feature Production	Pete Docter
Annie Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Music in a Feature Production	Michael Giacchino
Annie Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Storyboarding in a Feature Production	Peter Sohn
Annie Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Storyboarding in a Feature Production	Ronnie Del Carmen
Annie Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Writing in a Feature Production	Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
BAFTA	2009	Won	Animated Film
BAFTA	2009	Won	Music	Michael Giacchino
BAFTA	2009	Nominated	Original Screenplay	Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
BAFTA	2009	Nominated	Sound	Tom Myers, Michael Silvers, Michael Semanick, Doc Kane
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2010	Won	Best Animated Feature
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2010	Won	Best Composer	Michael Giacchino
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2010	Nominated	Best Picture
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards	2010	Nominated	Best Screenplay, Original	Bob Peterson, Pete Docter
Golden Globe	2009	Nominated	Animated Film
Golden Globe	2010	Won	Animated Film
Golden Globe	2009	Nominated	Original Score - Motion Picture	Michael Giacchino
Golden Globe	2010	Won	Original Score - Motion Picture	Michael Giacchino
Hugo Award	2010	Nominated	Dramatic Presentation, Long Form
National Board of Review Awards, USA	2009	Won	Best Animated Feature
Scream Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Director	Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Scream Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Fantasy Actor	Ed Asner
Scream Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Fantasy Movie
Scream Awards	2009	Nominated	Best Scream-Play	Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Thomas McCarthy
Scream Awards	2009	Nominated	The Ultimate Scream
Teen Choice Awards	2009	Won	Choice Summer Movie - Comedy
World Soundtrack Awards	2009	Nominated	Film Composer of the Year	Michael Giacchino

Extras:
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Interviews
Scene Access

My Thoughts:

I really like the first half of this movie. Great introductions of the characters. But as with the first time I have watched it in the cinema, I felt it lost something from the moment "Kevin" appears. And then shortly after with all the talking dogs. It's a little too ridiculous even for a movie where a house flies with balloons. But still the second half is worth watching. Some great action scenes, which were even better in 3D.

Rating:

[Najemikon]

I think it could have stood being more ridiculous! A lot of people seem to dismiss it as a film of two halves, yet I don't. It's kind of a metaphor for his state of mind. You can also see it as a kind of Alice in Wonderland setup too.

By the way, I found this earlier on Facebook. Someone has made a music track just using sounds from Up. It gets annoying, but it is clever. Also, rather spoiler-ific if you watch it closely, so beware, newbies!

[Tom]

Title: The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Year: 2005
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Rating: U
Length: 89 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: Dutch, English, Hindi, Italian

Stars:
Taylor Lautner
Taylor Dooley
Cayden Boyd
George Lopez
David Arquette
Kristen Davis

Plot:
Another family adventure from the hit-making director of 'Spy Kids', "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl" is nonstop fun and stars Hollywood favorites David Arquette, Kristin Davis and George Lopez. Everyone always knew that Max had a 'wild' imagination...but no one believed that his wildest creations - a boy raised by watchful great white sharks and a girl with the force of a volcano - were real! Now, these two pint-sized action masters will show Max that even an ordinary kid has what it takes to be extraordinary! Even the smallest dreamers can become the biggest heroes in this entertaining motion picture!

Awards:

Young Artist Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Performance in a Feature Film (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actor	Taylor Lautner
Young Artist Awards	2006	Nominated	Best Performance in a Feature Film (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress	Taylor Dooley

Extras:
Bonus Trailers
Scene Access

My Thoughts:

A very silly movie. In huge part a total rip-off of "Neverending Story". But it is fun, for what it is. Sharkboy is totally ridiculous, but Lavagirl is an interesting character. Her search for her true nature makes for good character moments (as good as it gets in a film like this). The special effects are below average for the most part, though there are some exceptions.

Rating:

[Tom]

Title: Zoom: Academy for Superheroes
Year: 2006
Director: Peter Hewitt
Rating: PG
Length: 85 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: Dutch, English, Hindi, Italian

Stars:
Tim Allen
Courteney Cox
Chevy Chase
Spencer Breslin
Kevin Zegers

Plot:
Buckle up and prepare for a ride that's out of this world! When Earth is threatened with imminent destruction, an out-of-shape, out-of-work and over-the-hill former superhero is called back into action to save the day.

That hero is Jack Sheppard a.k.a "Captain Zoom" (Tim Allen). The problem is he's lost all his powers. And now, it's up to General Larraby (Rip Torn) and Dr. Grant (Chevy Chase) to coax him into taking one more mission: train a ragtag bunch of kids with amazing superpowers of their own. With help from the brainy Marsha Holloway (Courteney Cox), they'll learn to work as a team and harness their powers to battle an evil menace who's determined to make one seriously huge mess of life as we know it.

Awards:

Golden Raspberry Awards	2006	Nominated	Worst Actor	Tim Allen
Young Artist Awards	2007	Nominated	Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Actress Age Ten or Younger	Ryan Newman

Extras:
Featurettes
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

I cannot believe that this movie has such a bad rep. I really enjoyed it. It was much more fun than expected. Little Cindy is a riot. Also the rest of the cast is fun to watch. And why was Tim Allen nominated for worst actor? He was perfect for the role of a washed-up superhero. Reminded me a little of his role in Galaxy Quest.

Rating:

[samuelrichardscott]

I didn't think Zoom was to bad either when I caught it on TV last year. Fun but nothing new and I would consider buying really really cheap used. I gave it a 2.5/5

I have The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in my 'pile' IIRC. Good reviews, thanks.

[Tom]

I have The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in my 'pile' IIRC.

Don't expect much from this one. After watching Zoom now, I have to say that Sharkboy and Lavagirl is very much below that. I would say that Sharkboy and Lavagirl is for kids, whereas Zoom is for the whole family.

[Rogmeister]

Courteney Cox is in this?    I either forgot that or never realized it.  I will probably have to order it now.  I'm thinking of placing an order soon so I may include it if it's cheap.  Unfortunately, I've never found it in a local bargain bin.  I wonder if I could make an order with a Friends theme?  Probably not...I don't recall Matt LeBlanc or David Schwimmer doing anything lately (I think Schwimmer is doing more directing than acting now).  I was considering ordering some more western TV series so I could just toss this in as an extra...  

[Tom]

Fun but nothing new and I would consider buying really really cheap used.

The triple movie pack I got goes for £1.39 new at Amazon.co.uk marketplace. I think it was money well spent. Zoom alone was worth it.

[Tom]

I don't recall Matt LeBlanc or David Schwimmer doing anything lately (I think Schwimmer is doing more directing than acting now).

The last thing I remember David Schwimmer seeing in is in Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 4. He is playing himself and in the storyline he is cast together with Larry David in Mel Brooks' The Producer stage production.

[samuelrichardscott]

Fun but nothing new and I would consider buying really really cheap used.

The triple movie pack I got goes for £1.39 new at Amazon.co.uk marketplace. I think it was money well spent. Zoom alone was worth it.

Even so, I already own Thunderbirds aswell, so as far as buying a triple pack for it I'll pass. I did order it right this minute from CeX though for £1.00 delivered (used), along with the 1935 movie The Informer which I had in my basket most the day with nothing else to pair it with to reach the £2 free shipping limit. I completely forgot Kate Mara was in it.

[Dragonfire]

I really liked Zoom when I saw it too.  Yes it is a bit silly at times...but the silliness works for the movie and helps to make it more entertaining.

[Achim]

Was't Schwimmer in a film with Simon Pegg. Run Fatboy Run, maybe?

[Tom]

Was't Schwimmer in a film with Simon Pegg. Run Fatboy Run, maybe?

He was the director of that film.

[Tom]

Title: Thunderbirds
Year: 2004
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Rating: PG
Length: 91 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Brady Corbet
Sophia Myles
Ben Kingsley
Bill Paxton
Vanessa Anne Hudgens

Plot:
Saving is a full-time job for ex-astronaut Jeff Tracy, his four eider sons and their five incredible machines: the Thunderbirds. Together they form International Rescue, a top secret organisation the world relies upon.

But today, they are under threat: their arch enemy The Hood has trapped them in space and taken over their hi-tech crafts and technology for his own evil purposes. Unbeknown to The Hood though, Alan the youngest Tracy boy, is still on their secret island. But does he have what it takes to save his family... and the world?

Directed by Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek Insurrection; Star Trek: First Contact) and starring Ben Kingsley (Schindler's List, Gandhi), Bill Paxton (Apollo 13, Twister) and Anthony Edwards (E.R.), Thunderbirds blasts into action with extraordinary vehicles and brave young heroes.

Extras:
Commentary
Featurettes
Interactive Game
Music Videos
Scene Access
Trailers

My Thoughts:

As a kid I sometimes watched the original series when I happen to catch it on TV, but I never really followed it. This movie, though having good effects and good production values, is nothing remarkable. The problem with it is, that it seems solely targeted at kids, and not to the now adult fans of the original series.
The looks of Lady Penelope very much reminded me of Sarah from Chuck. Although she is played by Sophia Miles who I know from Outlander.

Rating: