Tuesday, August 25, 2009
1MR: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Grouse - As If To Prove A Point
Synopsis: When Sarah Marshall dumps aspiring musician Peter Bretter for rock star Aldous Snow, Peter's world comes crashing down. His best friend suggests that Peter should get away from everything and to fly off to Hawaii to escape all his problems. After arriving in Hawaii and meeting the beautiful Rachel Jansen, Peter is shocked to see not only Aldous Snow in Hawaii, but also Sarah Marshall. imdb
Review: I think this could be called the romantic comedy for guys, but it falls just short of being a really good movie. After a while, I went from feeling sorry for Peter to wanting to punch him in the face. A few good jokes are made throughout the movie, but not as funny as I'd hoped. Jonah Hill had a surprisingly boring performance.
Overall the movie is worth seeing, but isn't all that memorable. I especially feel that way after having only seen it two weeks ago and not being able to remember large parts of it, haha. Oh, and Mila Kunis is somehow very attractive in this movie. That is all.
Rating: Rent
Synopsis: When Sarah Marshall dumps aspiring musician Peter Bretter for rock star Aldous Snow, Peter's world comes crashing down. His best friend suggests that Peter should get away from everything and to fly off to Hawaii to escape all his problems. After arriving in Hawaii and meeting the beautiful Rachel Jansen, Peter is shocked to see not only Aldous Snow in Hawaii, but also Sarah Marshall. imdb
Review: I think this could be called the romantic comedy for guys, but it falls just short of being a really good movie. After a while, I went from feeling sorry for Peter to wanting to punch him in the face. A few good jokes are made throughout the movie, but not as funny as I'd hoped. Jonah Hill had a surprisingly boring performance.
Overall the movie is worth seeing, but isn't all that memorable. I especially feel that way after having only seen it two weeks ago and not being able to remember large parts of it, haha. Oh, and Mila Kunis is somehow very attractive in this movie. That is all.
Rating: Rent
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
1MR: Battlefield 1943
Pink Floyd - Shine on You Crazy Diamond
Synopsis: It's time to do your part in the action packed battles of the World War II Pacific Campaign! Pick your path - be it as a rifleman crawling the trenches, a steel fisted tank commander or an ace fighter pilot dog-fighting to protect the skies. Play as a lone wolf or with your friends, coordinating to turn the tide of battle. Whatever you choose, you get to enjoy the thrill of a fully featured online shooter with the unique Battlefield gameplay. bf1943.com
Review: Battlefield 1942 has been revamped for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and retitled Battlefield 1943. It's hard to imagine that anyone who considers themselves a first person shooter fan would not have tried the Battlefield series by now. In a nutshell, this is team-oriented combat based on capturing and holding points on the map. Obtain a majority of the five points, and the other team's point ticker moves towards zero. The more your team captures, the faster the other team moves towards a loss.
The game ships with only three maps, and the bonus map that was unlocked (Coral Sea) is dog fighting only. Honestly, that is the only knock against the game. For $15, I dare you to find better value for your money. This is the best selling XBLA/PSN game for a reason, and people will be playing this for months and maybe even years to come. Now give us more maps, EA!
Rating: Buy
Synopsis: It's time to do your part in the action packed battles of the World War II Pacific Campaign! Pick your path - be it as a rifleman crawling the trenches, a steel fisted tank commander or an ace fighter pilot dog-fighting to protect the skies. Play as a lone wolf or with your friends, coordinating to turn the tide of battle. Whatever you choose, you get to enjoy the thrill of a fully featured online shooter with the unique Battlefield gameplay. bf1943.com
Review: Battlefield 1942 has been revamped for the Xbox 360 and PS3 and retitled Battlefield 1943. It's hard to imagine that anyone who considers themselves a first person shooter fan would not have tried the Battlefield series by now. In a nutshell, this is team-oriented combat based on capturing and holding points on the map. Obtain a majority of the five points, and the other team's point ticker moves towards zero. The more your team captures, the faster the other team moves towards a loss.
The game ships with only three maps, and the bonus map that was unlocked (Coral Sea) is dog fighting only. Honestly, that is the only knock against the game. For $15, I dare you to find better value for your money. This is the best selling XBLA/PSN game for a reason, and people will be playing this for months and maybe even years to come. Now give us more maps, EA!
Rating: Buy
Saturday, July 25, 2009
1MR: Defiance
Rangers @ Royals
Synopsis: On the run and hiding in the deep forests of the then German occupied Poland and Belorussia (World War II), the three Bielski brothers find the impossible task of foraging for food and weapons for their survival. They live, not only with the fear of discovery, contending with neighboring Soviet partisans and knowing whom to trust but also take the responsibility of looking after a large mass of fleeing Polish Jews from the German war machine. Women, men, children, the elderly and the young alike are all hiding in makeshift homes in the dark, cold and unforgiving forests in the darkest times of German occupied Eastern Europe. imdb
Review: This movie is a bit difficult to review. On one hand, the true story that the movie is based on is very interesting and having a feature film headlined by Daniel Craig to retell the story is deserved. On the other hand, the movie itself just doesn't flow all that well. Part of this could be based on the source material not being all that eventful, but I think it has more to do with bad editing. Several scenes could have been dropped while others expanded to keep away the urge to check your watch.
The Blu-ray transfer itself is very good, both in audio and video. The forest that the Bielski's occupy is vibrant without the grain usually seen in that type of environment. The sound is convincing, and the few battles are sharp and exciting. In the end, the movie is worth a rent just for the interesting story, but it won't be the prize of anyone's movie collection.
Rating: Rent
Synopsis: On the run and hiding in the deep forests of the then German occupied Poland and Belorussia (World War II), the three Bielski brothers find the impossible task of foraging for food and weapons for their survival. They live, not only with the fear of discovery, contending with neighboring Soviet partisans and knowing whom to trust but also take the responsibility of looking after a large mass of fleeing Polish Jews from the German war machine. Women, men, children, the elderly and the young alike are all hiding in makeshift homes in the dark, cold and unforgiving forests in the darkest times of German occupied Eastern Europe. imdb
Review: This movie is a bit difficult to review. On one hand, the true story that the movie is based on is very interesting and having a feature film headlined by Daniel Craig to retell the story is deserved. On the other hand, the movie itself just doesn't flow all that well. Part of this could be based on the source material not being all that eventful, but I think it has more to do with bad editing. Several scenes could have been dropped while others expanded to keep away the urge to check your watch.
The Blu-ray transfer itself is very good, both in audio and video. The forest that the Bielski's occupy is vibrant without the grain usually seen in that type of environment. The sound is convincing, and the few battles are sharp and exciting. In the end, the movie is worth a rent just for the interesting story, but it won't be the prize of anyone's movie collection.
Rating: Rent
Thursday, July 23, 2009
1MR: Seven Pounds
Radiohead - Subterranean Homesick Alien
Synopsis: Haunted by a secret, Ben Thomas looks for redemption by radically transforming the lives of seven people he doesn't know. Once his plan is set, nothing will be able to stop him. At least that's what he thinks. But Ben hadn't planned on falling in love with one of these people and she's the one who will end up transforming him. imdb
Review: I really wasn't expecting too much going into this. Will Smith seems to trade off the types of films he does. One film will be the somewhat boring drama The Pursuit of Happyness and then the next will be the action packed I Am Legend. This is another drama/"thinking" movie by the same people as Happyness. On top of that, this film pretty much got all the bad reviews it could handle and then some.
That said, I did enjoy the movie quite a bit. The first hour or so moved very slowly, and often times it was a bit aggravating how the story was intentionally being held back to later be revealed in "Aha!" fashion. Once past the first hour, however, the story came together very well and the performances by both Will Smith and especially Rosario Dawson were very good. Warning: this movie is a bit of a downer, haha.
Rating: Rent
Synopsis: Haunted by a secret, Ben Thomas looks for redemption by radically transforming the lives of seven people he doesn't know. Once his plan is set, nothing will be able to stop him. At least that's what he thinks. But Ben hadn't planned on falling in love with one of these people and she's the one who will end up transforming him. imdb
Review: I really wasn't expecting too much going into this. Will Smith seems to trade off the types of films he does. One film will be the somewhat boring drama The Pursuit of Happyness and then the next will be the action packed I Am Legend. This is another drama/"thinking" movie by the same people as Happyness. On top of that, this film pretty much got all the bad reviews it could handle and then some.
That said, I did enjoy the movie quite a bit. The first hour or so moved very slowly, and often times it was a bit aggravating how the story was intentionally being held back to later be revealed in "Aha!" fashion. Once past the first hour, however, the story came together very well and the performances by both Will Smith and especially Rosario Dawson were very good. Warning: this movie is a bit of a downer, haha.
Rating: Rent
Monday, January 21, 2008
Cloverfield
Underworld
Synopsis: Producer J.J. Abrams teams with writer Drew Goddard and director Matt Reeves for this frenetic tale of a powerful destructive force that descends upon New York City, and the four desperate survivors who put their lives on the line to embark on a perilous rescue mission. Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) is a young American professional who has recently been offered a coveted new job in Japan.
Moments [later] the entire New York City skyline goes dark. Power is restored a moment later, prompting partygoers to turn their attention towards the news, where they learn that a freight tanker has been overturned in New York Harbor. Racing to the rooftop in hopes of getting a better look at the situation, the group is terrified to witness a massive explosion that rains debris across midtown Manhattan, causing mass chaos and unparalleled destruction. But the worst is yet to come, because it soon becomes apparent that this is not the work of a terrorist or an act of war, but a massive creature beyond human comprehension. Fandango
Review: I really had no intention of seeing this, but ended up at the theater last night anyway. It's hard to talk about the movie without divulging the plot beyond the first five minutes, so this will be short. The main draw of the film is the way it was filmed. Think Blair Witch, except with a drunk camera man who also seems to suffer from epileptic seizures. At points the camera work honestly made me nauseous, even when there wasn't a ton of action going on.
Aside from this, the movie is fun to watch and doesn't seem as focus group tested as a lot of movies coming out these days. It's worth putting down a few dollars for the matinee. If you get sick easily, however, you may want to wait for the DVD release.
Oh, and Jessica Lucas...damn...
Rating: Rent
Synopsis: Producer J.J. Abrams teams with writer Drew Goddard and director Matt Reeves for this frenetic tale of a powerful destructive force that descends upon New York City, and the four desperate survivors who put their lives on the line to embark on a perilous rescue mission. Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David) is a young American professional who has recently been offered a coveted new job in Japan.
Moments [later] the entire New York City skyline goes dark. Power is restored a moment later, prompting partygoers to turn their attention towards the news, where they learn that a freight tanker has been overturned in New York Harbor. Racing to the rooftop in hopes of getting a better look at the situation, the group is terrified to witness a massive explosion that rains debris across midtown Manhattan, causing mass chaos and unparalleled destruction. But the worst is yet to come, because it soon becomes apparent that this is not the work of a terrorist or an act of war, but a massive creature beyond human comprehension. Fandango
Review: I really had no intention of seeing this, but ended up at the theater last night anyway. It's hard to talk about the movie without divulging the plot beyond the first five minutes, so this will be short. The main draw of the film is the way it was filmed. Think Blair Witch, except with a drunk camera man who also seems to suffer from epileptic seizures. At points the camera work honestly made me nauseous, even when there wasn't a ton of action going on.
Aside from this, the movie is fun to watch and doesn't seem as focus group tested as a lot of movies coming out these days. It's worth putting down a few dollars for the matinee. If you get sick easily, however, you may want to wait for the DVD release.
Oh, and Jessica Lucas...damn...
Rating: Rent
Sunday, August 20, 2006
1MR: V for Vendetta
 | Rangers @ Tigers |
Synopsis: The futuristic tale unfolds in a Great Britain that's a fascist state. A freedom fighter known as V (Weaving) uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressive society. He rescues a young woman (Portman) from the secret police, and she becomes his unlikely ally. imdb
Review: I'm really not sure what prompted me to drop $15 for this movie at Fry's the other day, not knowing anything about it. What a great impulse buy. From beginning to end, the movie is absolutely enthralling. Everything is pulled off well in the movie, and the transfer on both audio and video is great. The only unfortunate issue with the movie is how few people will realize who plays V. Other than that, great movie, especially for guys.
Rating: Buy
Thursday, December 15, 2005
1MR: King Kong
 | Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Restless Sinner |
Synopsis: Set in the 1930s, this is the story of a young and beautiful actress Ann Darrow from the world of vaudeville who finds herself lost in depression-era New York and her luck changes when she meets an over-ambitious filmmaker Carl Denham who brings her on an exploratory expedition to a remote island where she finds compassion and the true meaning of humanity with an ape Kong. imdb
Review: First, don't go to the imdb page linked above if you don't know the premise of King Kong. I had already read the book and seen bits and pieces of the old black and white movie before going to see the new version.
As one person put it, "Peter Jackson is like Steven Spielberg, without the suck." This movie reemphasizes that Jackson is a great director, not just someone who got lucky with one series of movies. The whole production and direction of the film is just flooring in every way. The actors are believable (although I do admit having to adjust to Jack Black in a serious role), the effects are among the best to date, and the sound jumps from channel to channel realistically duplicating the environment.
Even though the movie runs for a little over three hours, I never once checked my watch to see when it would end. Go see it now. If you've seen it, go see it again. Great movie.
Rating: Go Now!
Monday, December 12, 2005
1MR: Ong-bak: The Thai Warrior
 | The Mars Volta - Son et lumière |
Synopsis: When the head of Ong-Bak, the sacred Buddha of a poor village is stolen, the population is plunged into misery. The Buddha was the focal point of an anniversary vigil believed to bring rain to the drought-stricken area. Young Ting is selected by the villagers to travel to Bangkok and rescue the relic in time for their ceremony. Ting has an affinity with the statue as he was left on the temple steps as a baby and raised by monks, who taught him muay thai, but forbade him to use it in combat. But now he is forced to delve into a seedy underworld and try to avoid temptation... imdb.com
Review: Several people I know suggested this movie, and claimed Tony Jaa as the next Jackie Chan. No. Not only does the movie attempt to develop the plot in a way that's both too fast and very confusing, but the plot itself is a yawner. I mean, it's been pulled off before. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom did a very good job with the whole, "our village's most prized religious thing has been stolen; go get it," theme and it was still a good movie. I guess that's the difference between George Lucas & Steven Spielberg vs. Prachya Pinkaew.
The soundtrack is horrible. It's impossible to know how bad soundtracks can get until you've experienced Ong-bak. The movie also has some horrible editing. For example, in parts where they slow the video down to accentuate the moves, it comes off as ridiculous because you can see the stunt actors getting ready for the impact. Check this out only if you're a diehard fan of asian and martial arts films.
Rating: Pass
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
1MR: Kung Fu Hustle (DVD)
| O.A.R. - Hold on True |
Synopsis: (From IMDB.com) In Shanghai, China in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious "Axe Gang" while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf.
Review: A very short synopsis from the IMDB, that doesn't explain the depth of the movie. If you've never seen a Stephen Chow movie (Shaolin Soccer, God of Cookery, From Beijing with Love to name a few), this is where you should start. He has a way of combining action and serious stories with comedy that ranges from goofy to distinctly Chinese. This movie is the best balance so far of action and comedy. There are parts of the movie that are absolutely hilarious, while other parts almost made me cry...yeesh.
The DVD transfer is excellent. The video is crisp and detailed, with the special effects really coming through. Sound is equally as stunning throughout the film. There are several bonuses, including a very interesting 40 minute featurette on the making of the movie hosted by two of the supporting actors in the film.
This is one of the top three movies I've seen this year, sitting alongside Batman Begins and a movie that I'll be doing a 1 minute review of shortly. If you're at all into martial arts movies, this is a must.
Rating: Buy
Saturday, June 18, 2005
1MR: Batman Begins
| Mogwai - Hunted by a Freak |
Return of the 1 minute review...
Synopsis: Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.
Review: I'd heard that the movie was good, but I went in expecting something along the lines of the very first film released in the 90's; a decent movie, but not all that great. I was blown away. This was by far a much darker, and more intense movie than any of the Batman movies that have come before it. The choices for the roles are perfect, and everything seems to gel just right. My usual gauge of the quality of a movie is how many times I have to check my watch. I don't remember looking at it once.
Rating: Buy (Go watch it!)
