This weekend we went to see the opening of Death Race 2008 with Jason Stathan and Joan Allen. We like both of these actors so we thought the movie would be half way descent. It was indeed.
This action-adventure, sci-fi thriller is a non stop rush of adrenalin.
The premise of this movie deals with Stathan's character being falsely accused of a staged murder by the warden of the Prison, (Joan Allen's character), so that she can "encourage" him to take part in a Death Race; a car race where the inmates must kill each other in order to be the last man standing to win.
Stathan does most of his own stunts giving the movie tremendous reality.
The movie is very well done and keeps your interest throughout.
We like Death Race 2008 and we give it...............................................................3.25-Stars.
On DVD -
Meet Bill - This romantic drama about a man fed-up with his life and his cheating wife is a common real life story but in this instance, Bill decides to do something about it.
Starring Aaron Eckhart, Jessica Alba and Elizabeth Banks, the cast makes the movie interesting and well acted. I am not an Aaron Eckhart fan and I liked him in this movie.
We liked Meet Bill and we give it ...............................................3.0-Stars.
The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green - This movie was dead on arrival.
It is the story of the social life of a gay young man and it fails to deliver its comedic intent.
Poorly acted by a group of unknowns, this story was better as a syndicated cartoon feature in alternative newspapers decades ago. This movie makes Shallow Hal seem like a humanitarian.
We didn't care for this film and regret that part of our life we spent watching it.
We give it" ..............Ethan Green"............................................................1.5-Stars.
The Other Boleyn Girl - We liked this movie. It was very well done and acted by three great actors: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Banna.
Two sisters compete for the love of King Henry VIII. The rest is history.
We liked this movie and we give The Other Boleyn Girl...................................3.25-Stars.
P.S. I Love You - This romantic drama was beautifully acted by a considerable cast of stars;
Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Harry Connick Jr., and Kathy Bates. The story is a very sad but uplifting one, where a husband who knew his days were numbered, leaves his wife a series of letters to help her deal with her loss of him.
It is very touching, specially if you have lost someone close to you, in your life.
It is hard to be objective with a movie whose story you love. We loved P.S. I Love You and we give it............................................4-Stars.
On Cable-
First Snow - Good movie dealing with repressed guilt and how one's mind can make one crazy.
Starring Guy Pearce, Steven Michael Quezada and J.K. Simmons, this drama thriller is a psychological study of one man's dealing with his past, and how guilt plays a huge part.
The movie is slow going at times but it packs a punch.
We liked First Snow and we give it.........................................2.75 Stars.
Thank you for visiting our little piece of cyberspace. Please come back soon as we bring you Our 2-Cents Worth in movie reviews.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Slow Weekend at the Movies 8-15-08
Hello and welcome to Ken and Len's Movie Review.
This week we skipped the movie theater for the first time in months because we had chores to do and it was very slim pickings at the movie theater.
But we do have a handful DVD reviews so without much more ado here are this week's reviews.
DVD's -
Rambo - This 1980's classic returns with a new episode of a crime action thriller written, directed and starring Sylvester Stallone.
This time our hero is in Thailand where he joins a group of mercenaries to venture into war-ravaged Burma to rescue a group of Christian aid workers who were kidnapped by ruthless paramilitary locals.
The action is non stop and the computer graphics depict vivid violence and gore.
We liked Rambo and give it.....................................................3.25-Stars
Cloverfield - This action-mystery-sci-fi-thriller was much anticipated but packed very little punch.
The plot revolves around a Godzilla-type monster attack on New York city as told by a group of friends wielding a video cam after their going away party was interrupted.
Starring a bunch of unknowns, this movie lacked the star power and the writing required for an interesting Hollywood film.
Cloverfield was so-so and we give it.............................................................2.5 Stars
The Spiderwick Chronicles -
Upon moving into the deserted Spiderwick Mansion with their mother, twin brothers and their sister find themselves pulled into a parallel world full of faeries and other creatures.
Starring Freddie Highmore as the twins, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Sarah Bolger, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn and voices by Seth Rogen and Martin Short, this family adventure-fantasy pleases on all levels. The writing is good, the action is better and the computer generated graphics are excellent.
We enjoyed The Spiderwick Chronicles and we give it ...................................3-Stars
Saw -4 -
Tobin Bell is back as Jigsaw in this crime-horror-thriller that is likely to affect your nightmares for a few days following your screening of it.
In this latest installment, Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead, but somehow his legacy carries on. Talk about creative writing.......
But the movie does what it means to do and that is to horrify you with unspeakable blood and guts and related mayhem. If you like horror movies you will like Saw-4. We give it.................3.25 -Stars
King of California -
This wacky comedy starring Michael Douglas is very well done even though his character can be infuriating at times.
Playing an unreliable dad recently released from a mental institution, he tries to convince his daughter that there is Spanish gold buried under the suburbs in California.
The movie is very well done and it can be heartfelt at times. What do you do with an unstable parent?
It was very enjoyable and has a good ending. We liked King of California and we give it..............................3-Stars.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford -
Well, so much for plot development and a surprise ending. The movie tittle says it all. No much room for interest in the movie when you know the ending. And so is the case with TAOJJBTCRF; the fact that it was a western, poorly made, didn't help its cause either; the fact that Casey Affleck is not our idea of a good actor even when you can understand what he is saying; and that Brad Pitt is not much better, add up to terrible cinematic experience.
The total sum of its part add up to a not so enjoyable, too long movie. We gave this disaster...........................................................2-Stars.
Please come back soon as we hope to bring more movie reviews so that we can share Our 2-cents worth at the movies.
This week we skipped the movie theater for the first time in months because we had chores to do and it was very slim pickings at the movie theater.
But we do have a handful DVD reviews so without much more ado here are this week's reviews.
DVD's -
Rambo - This 1980's classic returns with a new episode of a crime action thriller written, directed and starring Sylvester Stallone.
This time our hero is in Thailand where he joins a group of mercenaries to venture into war-ravaged Burma to rescue a group of Christian aid workers who were kidnapped by ruthless paramilitary locals.
The action is non stop and the computer graphics depict vivid violence and gore.
We liked Rambo and give it.....................................................3.25-Stars
Cloverfield - This action-mystery-sci-fi-thriller was much anticipated but packed very little punch.
The plot revolves around a Godzilla-type monster attack on New York city as told by a group of friends wielding a video cam after their going away party was interrupted.
Starring a bunch of unknowns, this movie lacked the star power and the writing required for an interesting Hollywood film.
Cloverfield was so-so and we give it.............................................................2.5 Stars
The Spiderwick Chronicles -
Upon moving into the deserted Spiderwick Mansion with their mother, twin brothers and their sister find themselves pulled into a parallel world full of faeries and other creatures.
Starring Freddie Highmore as the twins, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Sarah Bolger, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn and voices by Seth Rogen and Martin Short, this family adventure-fantasy pleases on all levels. The writing is good, the action is better and the computer generated graphics are excellent.
We enjoyed The Spiderwick Chronicles and we give it ...................................3-Stars
Saw -4 -
Tobin Bell is back as Jigsaw in this crime-horror-thriller that is likely to affect your nightmares for a few days following your screening of it.
In this latest installment, Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are dead, but somehow his legacy carries on. Talk about creative writing.......
But the movie does what it means to do and that is to horrify you with unspeakable blood and guts and related mayhem. If you like horror movies you will like Saw-4. We give it.................3.25 -Stars
King of California -
This wacky comedy starring Michael Douglas is very well done even though his character can be infuriating at times.
Playing an unreliable dad recently released from a mental institution, he tries to convince his daughter that there is Spanish gold buried under the suburbs in California.
The movie is very well done and it can be heartfelt at times. What do you do with an unstable parent?
It was very enjoyable and has a good ending. We liked King of California and we give it..............................3-Stars.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford -
Well, so much for plot development and a surprise ending. The movie tittle says it all. No much room for interest in the movie when you know the ending. And so is the case with TAOJJBTCRF; the fact that it was a western, poorly made, didn't help its cause either; the fact that Casey Affleck is not our idea of a good actor even when you can understand what he is saying; and that Brad Pitt is not much better, add up to terrible cinematic experience.
The total sum of its part add up to a not so enjoyable, too long movie. We gave this disaster...........................................................2-Stars.
Please come back soon as we hope to bring more movie reviews so that we can share Our 2-cents worth at the movies.
Monday, August 11, 2008
WEEKEND OF 08-08-08
Hello and welcome back to our Movie Blog.
Before we tell you about the movies we saw this week, we would like to make mention of the incredible Opening Ceremonies for the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing. These ceremonies have to be by far the very best ever produced. They were like nothing else ever produced. It had the largest television audience to ever watch a single event in the history of the world.
If you didn't see them we recommend that you buy the video because you are not likely another spectacle like this in your life time. We give the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing...............................................................5-Stars
At the Movies:
Pineapple Express - A pothead and his dealer are forced to go on the run after the pothead witnesses a police officer commit a murder.
Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Ed Begley, Jr., Rosie Perez and Nora Dunn, this light hearted comedy, action-drama is entertaining and thoughtless fun, and it has more violence than a World War II movie. (or so it seemed at the time)
Pineapple Express is a modern day Cheech and Chong Movie. We liked it. We give Pineapple Express............................................................................................3-Stars
The X-Files - I want to Believe - David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are back as agents Mulder and Scully when the FBI calls them back to duty when a defrocked priest claims to be receiving visions of a missing FBI agent.
Also starring Amanda Peet, this feature length episode is good but we were hoping for more.
The premise that human organ transplantation had achieved new heights was interesting but not enough to make this movie what it could have been. Nevertheless we enjoyed it and we give The X-Files: I Want to Believe......................................................3.25-Stars.
On DVD -
The Walker -
This Washington DC based story about a male escort of wealthy high society ladies and their shared appetite for gossip and scandal is a very good drama mystery.
This all star cast including Woody Harrelson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lauren Becall, Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin and Willem Dafoe is excellent as the murder mystery unfolds.
We liked this movie very well and we give The Walker.................................3.25-Stars
The Savages -
Starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymore Hoffman, The Savages, is an excellent study into the sibling relationship when life dictates that they need to take care of their ailing father.
This comedy-drama was very well done and it made you laugh and cry.
We loved The Savages and we give it............................................................3.5-Stars
The Time Machine -
This sci-fi action-adventure, based on a novel by H.G. Wells, is clever in its premise, but the story is not interesting enough to command unrestricted interest.
The cast of relative unknowns including Guy Pearce, Mark Addy, and Jeremy Irons, are not charismatic enough to take control of the audience and carry the movie through.
Hoping to change the past, a 19th century inventor travels 800 000 years into the future to find the humanity has been reduced into two warring factions.
It was mildly interesting and we give The Time Machine........................................2.75-Stars
Before we tell you about the movies we saw this week, we would like to make mention of the incredible Opening Ceremonies for the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing. These ceremonies have to be by far the very best ever produced. They were like nothing else ever produced. It had the largest television audience to ever watch a single event in the history of the world.
If you didn't see them we recommend that you buy the video because you are not likely another spectacle like this in your life time. We give the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing...............................................................5-Stars
At the Movies:
Pineapple Express - A pothead and his dealer are forced to go on the run after the pothead witnesses a police officer commit a murder.
Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Ed Begley, Jr., Rosie Perez and Nora Dunn, this light hearted comedy, action-drama is entertaining and thoughtless fun, and it has more violence than a World War II movie. (or so it seemed at the time)
Pineapple Express is a modern day Cheech and Chong Movie. We liked it. We give Pineapple Express............................................................................................3-Stars
The X-Files - I want to Believe - David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are back as agents Mulder and Scully when the FBI calls them back to duty when a defrocked priest claims to be receiving visions of a missing FBI agent.
Also starring Amanda Peet, this feature length episode is good but we were hoping for more.
The premise that human organ transplantation had achieved new heights was interesting but not enough to make this movie what it could have been. Nevertheless we enjoyed it and we give The X-Files: I Want to Believe......................................................3.25-Stars.
On DVD -
The Walker -
This Washington DC based story about a male escort of wealthy high society ladies and their shared appetite for gossip and scandal is a very good drama mystery.
This all star cast including Woody Harrelson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lauren Becall, Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin and Willem Dafoe is excellent as the murder mystery unfolds.
We liked this movie very well and we give The Walker.................................3.25-Stars
The Savages -
Starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymore Hoffman, The Savages, is an excellent study into the sibling relationship when life dictates that they need to take care of their ailing father.
This comedy-drama was very well done and it made you laugh and cry.
We loved The Savages and we give it............................................................3.5-Stars
The Time Machine -
This sci-fi action-adventure, based on a novel by H.G. Wells, is clever in its premise, but the story is not interesting enough to command unrestricted interest.
The cast of relative unknowns including Guy Pearce, Mark Addy, and Jeremy Irons, are not charismatic enough to take control of the audience and carry the movie through.
Hoping to change the past, a 19th century inventor travels 800 000 years into the future to find the humanity has been reduced into two warring factions.
It was mildly interesting and we give The Time Machine........................................2.75-Stars
Monday, August 4, 2008
The Mummy 3 - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
In what is likely to be the last of Summer of 2008 blockbusters, The Mummy 3 - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, did not disappoint. With an opening weekend of over 42 million dollars, it did very well at the box office, although it came in second behind the new Batman movie- The Dark Knight.
The Mummy 3 is the latest installment in the Brendan Fraser led saga about bringing back to life, evil doers from centuries past. This version has Jet Li in the role of the Dragon Emperor; a shape shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago for killing the love of her life.
This action-adventure fantasy thriller is visually stunning with images of China in the 1940's.
It is fast moving and interesting to watch and the computer generated images are very well done.
Don't be surprise if the sequel is filmed in Peru.
We liked The Mummy 3 and we think it merits....................................3.25-Stars.
Also seen on DVD -
Charlie Barlett
The premise is simple: Rich kid becomes self appointed psychologist to the students of his new high school. However Charlie Barlett is also about most humans' innate desire to be popular and to be liked.
Staring Anton Yelchin and Robert Downey Jr., this movie is funny and sad as needed.
Anton Yelchin is terrific as Charlie Bartlett and Robert Downey Jr, plays an alcoholic high school principal, which he does very well. (hehe)
It was easy to watch and very enjoyable. Keep an eye out for Anton; He is likely to be a huge star.
We loved Charlie Bartlett and we give it..................................................3.5-Stars
Lost Horizon - The Musical
Although it was not highly regarded by the masses in 1973, this story about Shangri La was very well done by its all-star cast, including notables as: Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann, Sally Kellerman, George Kennedy, Michael York, Olivia Hussey, Bobby Van, Charles Boyer and Sir John Gielgud.
The music was written and composed by Burt Bacharach and it was very appropriate for the telling of this classic tale from James Hilton's Utopian lost world.
While we have to agree that the choreography was a bit lame, and the singing could have been of higher caliber, we thought the movie deserved better than what has been said about it.
We enjoyed this version very much and we give Lost Horizon............................3-Stars
The Mummy 3 is the latest installment in the Brendan Fraser led saga about bringing back to life, evil doers from centuries past. This version has Jet Li in the role of the Dragon Emperor; a shape shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago for killing the love of her life.
This action-adventure fantasy thriller is visually stunning with images of China in the 1940's.
It is fast moving and interesting to watch and the computer generated images are very well done.
Don't be surprise if the sequel is filmed in Peru.
We liked The Mummy 3 and we think it merits....................................3.25-Stars.
Also seen on DVD -
Charlie Barlett
The premise is simple: Rich kid becomes self appointed psychologist to the students of his new high school. However Charlie Barlett is also about most humans' innate desire to be popular and to be liked.
Staring Anton Yelchin and Robert Downey Jr., this movie is funny and sad as needed.
Anton Yelchin is terrific as Charlie Bartlett and Robert Downey Jr, plays an alcoholic high school principal, which he does very well. (hehe)
It was easy to watch and very enjoyable. Keep an eye out for Anton; He is likely to be a huge star.
We loved Charlie Bartlett and we give it..................................................3.5-Stars
Lost Horizon - The Musical
Although it was not highly regarded by the masses in 1973, this story about Shangri La was very well done by its all-star cast, including notables as: Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann, Sally Kellerman, George Kennedy, Michael York, Olivia Hussey, Bobby Van, Charles Boyer and Sir John Gielgud.
The music was written and composed by Burt Bacharach and it was very appropriate for the telling of this classic tale from James Hilton's Utopian lost world.
While we have to agree that the choreography was a bit lame, and the singing could have been of higher caliber, we thought the movie deserved better than what has been said about it.
We enjoyed this version very much and we give Lost Horizon............................3-Stars
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