Topic: Never Ending Movie Marathon (short reviews)

[samuelrichardscott]

My Stepmother Is an Alien (1988)

Overview:
Celeste (Kim Basinger) is an alien who has come to Earth to find a way of saving her own planet from destruction. Recently widowed scientist Steve Mills (Dan Aykroyd) falls madly in love with her, and after marrying her wants nothing more than to settle down to domestic bliss. However, a spanner is thrown in the works by Jessie, Steve's young daughter, who is extremely suspicious of her strange new mother.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- Kim Basinger suited her role as the alien very well, and I generally don't expect much from her, especially comedy wise.
- A couple of interesting early roles for Alyson Hannigan and Seth Green, who both hold their own well enough.
- Some funny visual comedy and some funny dialogue throughout, usually from Basinger.
Cons:
- I can't pinpoint why, but I didn't like the brotherly relationship between Dan Aykroyd and Jon Lovitz.
- The visual effects are quite poor, even for 1988.
- The story is very formulaic and lacked spark.
Overall:
Meh. Not a bad way to waste some time, but some missed opportunities plot-wise. 3/5

[samuelrichardscott]

New York Minute (2004)

Overview:
Action comedy starring Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen. Uptight overachiever Jane (Ashley Olsen), up for a scholarship at Oxford University, has a major speech to give - while laid-back rock rebel Roxy (Mary-Kate Olsen), a friend of Jack Osbourne, hopes to get backstage at a video shoot and slip her demo tape to the band. But Jane's and Roxy's plans go wildly awry and the two must join together when a mix-up involving Jane's all-important day planner lands them in the middle of a black market music piracy scheme.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- Eugene Levy almost manages to bring some sense of fun to the movie.
- There is a funny moment where the lyrics from Complicated by Avril Lavigne are read out as a speech.
Cons:
- Twins in a mistaken identity movie? Not very original.
- The casting is poor for the most part, especially the likes of Jared Padalecki (surpisingly) and Jack Osbourne.
- The 'Chinese' limo driver played horrendously by Andy Richter is a truly annoying character.
Overall:
Skip it. 1.5/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Splinter (2006)

Overview:
Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down) stars as a dirty cop on the gang-ravaged streets of East L.A. in this smart and gritty thriller. A bloody drive-by shooting ends a truce between two warring gangs, leaving "Shaggy" Gonzalez dead and his brother "Dreamer" badly wounded. Now Dreamer is desperate to avenge his brother's murder, but his head wound has robbed him of his memory of the shooting. With a rising number of bizarre murders and hacked-up bodies, police aren't sure if they have a gang war or a serial killer on their hands, and their only chance of finding out is if Dreamer pieces together his shattered memory... before it's too late.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- It's not often the bit-part gangsters are noteworthy, but they are better than average here.
- There are some good ideas with the plot with regards to Dreamer's memory loss and how it pieces together.
Cons:
- Tom Sizemore felt out of place and Adam Rodriguez phoned his brief role in.
- I wasn't overly keen on the style.
Overall:
Enough good ideas to keep you watching, although they are often put to screen without much thought. Low end rental. 2.5/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Gulliver's Travels (2010)

Overview:
A fast-paced comedy adventure showing what can happen when you go up in the world....literally! Jack Black stars as Lemuel Gulliver, an underachieving mail room worker who finds himself washed ashore the fantasy land of Lilliput, populated by a tiny civilisation known as Lilliputians. With the Lilliputians having no idea of the modern world Gulliver is able to reinvent himself as their hero by impressing them with his size, superior knowledge and incredible inventions like the iPod.

My Thoughts:
This movie got absolutely panned when it was released at the cinemas so my expectations were low and I only picked it up for Amanda Peet. However, I found this to be a rather enjoyable, if forgettable little movie, that used pop culture really well in its favour. The cast is suprisingly good and includes Jack Black, Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt, Chris O'Dowd, Jaso Segal and Billy Connolly. Rent it. 3/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Half Past Dead (2002)

Overview:
Action thriller starring Steven Seagal as Sascha Petrosevitch, an FBI agent working undercover to infiltrate a gang of crooks. His undercover operation even stretches to being incarcerated in a jail known as 'the new Alcatraz' with one of the gang members, Nick Frazier (Ja Rule). But when a corrupt prison assistant, Donny (Morris Chestnut) storms the prison demanding that a soon-to-be-executed thief tell him the whereabouts of $200 million worth of gold, Sascha must convince his fellow inmates of his true identity and foil Donny's plan - and quickly.

My Thoughts:
There really isn't any need to beat around the bush here for yet another Steven Seagal action movie where he is joined by rappers playing gangsters. There are some pretty good set pieces and special effects, Morris Chestnut was suprisingly well suited, dialogue is a little clunky but passable and the story was just there to string the action together. If you're a Seagal film, watch it, if you're not, don't. Simple as that. 3/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Swindle (2002)

Overview:
Seth George (Tom Sizemore) is an undercover cop who's not afraid to cross the line.
Working on the inside of a ruthless gang headed by a beautiful criminal (Sherilyn Fenn), it doesn't take long before he's involved in an elaborate bank robbery.
One by one, things start to go wrong, as Seth discovers that there's more to this job than meets the eye. The stakes get higher, and Seth's under the gun, forced to choose between being a cop and being taken for a ride.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- Sherilyn Fenn and Dave Foley are the pick of the cast putting in reasonably good showings.
- Some good, if slightly expected twists in the storyline.
Cons:
- I just couldn't buy Tom Sizemore as an undercover cop here.
- The transition between current time and flashbacks isn't always smooth.
Overall:
Not a bad effort. Rent it. 3/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Game of Death (2010)

Overview:
Action hero Wesley Snipes (Blade, Demolition Man) is back on top form in this dynamite-powered action spectacular, an accelerated blast of full-throttle violence, heart-pounding thrills and death-defying action sequences. Also starring unstoppable kickboxing champion Gary Daniels (The Expendables) and stunt legend Zoe Bell (Death Proof, Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2).

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- Good to see stunt performer Zoe Bell in another 'real' role.
- Some fun set piece action scenes.
Cons:
- The story is nothing new. A standard DTV politically minded CIA thriller.
- The supporting cast like Robert Davi, Gary Daniels and Ernie Hudson are underused.
Overall:
For DTV action fans only. 2.5/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Caught in the Crossfire (2010)

Overview:
Two detectives investigating a gang-related murder find themselves targeted by both gang members and crooked cops.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- The storyline had some good ideas.
- Some well made shots and a couple of above average set pieces.
Cons:
- The acting is woeful. Expected bad acting from 50 Cent and Chris Klein, but not from Adam Rodriguez.
- The pacing is far too slow.
- Dialogue is of a low standard. Pretty much a script for hire.
Overall:
Skip it. 1.5/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Five Fingers (2006)

Overview:
Thriller starring Ryan Phillippe and Laurence Fishburne. Martijn (Phillipe) is a gifted Dutch jazz pianist who flies to Morocco to set up a food assistance programme. On Middle Eastern soil, however, he and his security person, Gavin (Colm Meaney), are promptly kidnapped by terrorists, dragged to a warehouse, chained down and blindfolded. The captors promptly kill Gavin and then begin systematic attempts to extract information from the pianist (about where he obtained the money to set up the programme) - by cutting off his fingers one at a time. Martijn insists on his own ignorance, though in time it becomes clear that all is not what it seems.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- Colm Meaney. One of the most underrated actors out there in another great role.
- Did a great job at keeping the movie intriguing considering 90% is in the one location and it is dialogue driven.
- One of the better suprise endings I can think of. I never saw the twist coming.
Cons:
- There are a number of questions that are annoyingly left unanswered.
- Not so keen on Ryan Phillippe's Dutch accent. Surely there are some great Dutch actors who could've taken on the role?
Overall:
This one went under the radar of most people, including myself, but I recommend it. 3.5/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Ted (2012)

Overview:
Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humour to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of Ted. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish… and has refused to leave his side ever since.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis are both very good here and compliment each other well.
- The cameo by Flash Gordon. Very funny.
- The comedy is a good mix between visual and dialogue.
Cons:
- Lost its way a little in the final third.
- Some of the humour you could see coming. Some cliched gross-out jokes.
Overall:
The first two thirds are fantastic, the final act not so much. Still, I recommend it. 3.5/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Little Big Soldier (2010)

Overview:
Described as Jackie Chan's best film in years (Twitch), Little Big Soldier is an hilarious thrill-packed masterpiece from the matchless star of hit movies like Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon and The Karate Kid. Join the undisputed King of Action Comedy for a madcap action-packed journey across ancient China. In the aftermath of a great battle between rival kingdoms, only two men remain standing! One is a peasant soldier with a shameless ability for avoiding his responsibilities in battle (Jackie Chan); the other is a warrior prince, who has been wounded fighting for his country (Wang Leehom). Irresistibly tempted by the chance to collect a large reward, the peasant overpowers the disadvantaged prince and sets off to collect his bounty. Unknowingly, his bold actions unleash a chain reaction of chaos, and they are soon pursued across country by relentless nomad warriors and rogue forces lead by the prince's disenchanted brother. When danger confronts them around every corner, the world's two most unlikely allies quickly realise they will need to join forces if they are to make it home in one piece! Now, as each challenge takes them closer to victory, a prince will learn humility and a nobody will find the strength to be someone great. Based on an original story created by Jackie Chan himself, Little Big Soldier is an irresistible, pulse-pounding deluge of side-splitting comedy, stunts and kinetic martial arts action that is guaranteed to enthrall and entertain from start to finish!

My Thoughts:
Little Big Soldier has divided Jackie Chan fans as it is a film that has infused his comedy stylings with his more serious recent offerings based around Chinese history. Some loved it, some couldn't get into the swing of it. For me, I enjoyed it. The story was simple but offered enough depth to get to know the characters, the fight choreography was great as always and the nice little comedic touches were a joy. It's far from Jackie's best but fans should generally enjoy it. Recommended. 3.5/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Flubber (1997)

Overview:
College professor Philip Brainard (Robin Williams) is so absent-minded that he manages to miss his own wedding to colleague Sara Reynolds (Marcia Gay Harden). The reason Philip forgets is his new invention - Flubber, a high-energy green substance which can bounce great distances, even enabling Philip to fly his car like an aeroplane. However, Philip and Flubber have their work cut out when they discover that Sara has been sweet-talked by Philip's rival in love, Wilson. Together with Philip's pet robot, Weebo, they set about winning Sara back.

My Thoughts:
Flubber is a Disney remake of their 1961 movie The Absent Minded Professor and stars a fairly good cast in Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden and Christopher McDonald (although all are capable of better). The special effects are certainly the strong point of the movie and do make up the majority of the fun of the movie. The story isn't all that great and the dialogue isn't as strong as it could be but Robin Williams is good enough that when coupled with the effects the movie is moderately entertaining if forgettable. Rent it. 2.5/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Ruby Sparks (2012)

Overview:
A novelist struggling with writer's block finds romance in a most unusual way: by creating a female character he thinks will love him, then willing her into existence.

My Thoughts:
Pros:
- If this is what Zoe Kazan can write as her writing debut, I can't wait to see what she does next! She's also a great actress.
- Paul Dano. He is already a star in my opinion, but if he keeps picking roles like this and Looper he'll get the recognition he deserves.
- I really enjoyed the way it was not just a romantic comedy, but was also quite edgy with a few depressing scenes.
Cons:
- Sometimes a little predictable.
- Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas were underused.
Overall:
Recommended. 4/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Cockleshell Heroes (1955)

Overview:
World War II action film about the training of ten marines for a sabotage mission. Whipped into shape by a no-nonsense Sergeant Major, the men are charged with destroying a number of giant German battleships in the harbour at Bordeaux, a mission they will carry out by entering the harbour in canoes and attaching limpet mines to the vessels. Facing almost impossible odds, the men demonstrate their resolve, and pursue their task with great courage.

My Thoughts:
Based on a fascinating true story in which only two of the soldiers survived (they actually worked on the set of this film), Cockleshell Heroes was a bit of a mixed bag for me considering it is quite highly rated by British film fans. The acting was average apart from Jose Ferrer who also directed and Trevor Howard. The short amount of time given to the actual mission was surprisingly short and sometimes the dialogue felt it had been embellished over what actually happened. It's not a bad film, but I expected better. I've just ordered the book Operation Frankton though which is said to be an in-depth look at the mission and the brave soldiers behind it. Rent it. 3/5

[samuelrichardscott]

Welcome to the Jungle (2003)

Overview:
The Rock (aka Duane Johnson) firmly establishes himself as a major Hollywood force in Welcome to the Jungle, an engaging action-comedy directed by Peter Berg. Johnson/Rock plays Beck, a retriever-for-hire, who is sent on one final mission before he can retire and realize his dream of opening up his own restaurant. Swapping the concrete jungle of Los Angeles for the jungles of the Amazon, Beck begins his quest to locate his boss' son, Travis (Seann William Scott). When he walks into the establishment of the beautiful Mariana (Rosario Dawson), he does just that. But before he can drag Travis back to the airstrip and deliver him to his father, the evil Hatcher (Christopher Walken) arrives and reminds Beck that this is his jurisdiction. Apparently, Travis is incredibly close to locating a rare relic, and until that happens, Hatcher isn't letting Travis out of his sight. Of course, Beck uses his talent for kicking ass to escape with Travis, but after their jeep tumbles off a mountain, they find themselves trapped in the jungle with Hatcher hot on their trail. Berg's film breathes with a lighthearted air that is truly refreshing for the action genre, while the relentlessly hilarious interplay between The Rock and Scott is a sight to behold.

My Thoughts:
I have to admit that when I first heard that The Rock was getting into movies I wasn't terribly excited and his role in The Mummy Returns was one of the lowlights in that movie for me. However, since then my opinion has changed. I've enjoyed him in films like Walking Tall, A Man Apart and Faster and I'm enjoying his role so far in the Fast and Furious movies. Welcome to the Jungle though, was the first movie that started to change my mind about him way back in 2003. The action scenes are a lot of fun, he played off the comedy parts well with Seann William Scott and the story is above average for the action-comedy-buddy genre. The supporting cast are also very good and certainly worth mentioning, particularly Rosario Dawson and Christopher Walken. Welcome to the Jungle might not appeal to everyone, but it's a funny movie with some good set pieces. Recommended. 3.5/5