MrPink08's Reviews

Date Night (2010)

2/10

16 April 2010

How exactly can you mess up a movie with Steve Carrell and Tina Fey as your main stars? Both are stars of two of the best shows on TV (I love Carrell's The Office, but I'm not a fan of Fey's 30 Rock) and have played their share of memorable characters on the big screen (Carrell as a weatherman who can't think in Anchorman and Fey as a teacher in Mean Girls) but when they share the screen for Date Night, they are ruined by trying to make a weak script funny.

Carrell and Fey play the Fosters, a boring New Jersey couple. The opening scenes where they introduce the Fosters are lagging and boring. Things should pick up when they go to New York for a fancy dinner and Carrell takes another couple's table, leading to series of misadventures for the poor couple. Due to a case of mistaken identity, they are caught up in a scheme involving crooked cops and gangsters. Needless to say, this barely makes any sense.

Usually, I'm all for celebrity cameos, but Date Night took it too far. Mila Kunis, Leighton Meester, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, William Fitchner, and Ray Liotta all make cameos. Wahlberg's cameo is very amusing, but the rest are either dumb (Fitchner), pointless (Meester), or too brief (Kunis, Franco and Liotta). Your focus should be on Carrell and Fey, but instead you're going star watching for half the movie. The cameo loses its so called "sacredness" when nearly every bit part is played by an A-lister.

Overall, Date Night could've been hilarious but is brought by its weak script and dumb plot. For your next date night, do yourself a favor and don't subject yourself to Carrell and Fey's.

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Repo Men (2010)

8/10

Health Care Bill Gone Wild

24 March 2010

When the economic crisis first hit, Clive Owen came out with The International, a film about an evil bank. With the health care crisis now in full swing, Jude Law has come out with Repo Men, a film about evil health care people. Repo Men is good, but seems to have come out a bit early because this seems like a perfect summer film.

I cannot remember a time when Jude Law was this much fun. Fresh off a turn as Watson in Guy Ritchie's superb Sherlock Holmes, Law plays Remy, who work for the The Union, a company that supplies artificial body parts. If you can't pay for them, The Union sends Remy and his best mate Jake (Forrest Whitaker) after you. They cut you open and take the parts back. Its a bloody good time for all.

Law is such a badass in this film. You would think a role like this would go to Jason Statham, but a renowned actor like Law, who really isn't used to being the badass, plays the part very well. With the amount of blood and violence and quick takes, you would think this flick was made by the Neveldine/Taylor duo. First time director Miguel Sapochnik does the film well, but you'd like to see what an experienced director could do with it.

While Repo Men falls short with some of its blood for the sake of blood scenes and some acting shortcomings (Forrest is good but has too little to do), it makes up for it with Law and its twist ending. Go catch Repo Men. You'll rip your heart out if you don't.

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The Book of Eli (2010)

7/10

DELIvers us from a dreary winter

9 February 2010

Few things are hotter this winter than Mila Kunis walking around a post-apocalyptic town in a pair of Aviators. That and a quiet Denzel Washington wielding a sword sets up The Book of Eli, yet another post-apocalyptic thriller set in the future (or lack thereof). The post-apocalypse film may be getting old after films like Children of Men, The Road, I Am Legend, etc., but The Book of Eli manages to keep itself away from the cliché apocalypse film.

Denzel portrays the title character of Eli, a mysterious man who walks around around a destroyed world carrying a book he believes can save humanity. He wanders into a makeshift town where a sadistic villain (Gary Oldman) desperately wants the book. Enter some hacked limbs, explosions, and cannibals, and you got yourself an interesting film.

This is a different role for Denzel. Usually, he's just the calm talker who tries to make sure the bad guys don't do anything crazy (think Inside Man and last summer's remake of The Taking of Pelham 123). However, not only does Denzel do a lot of talking, but he's cutting off people's arms and shooting up the place like he's Jason Statham. One memorable scene involves Eli killing Oldman's men-who are armed with sniper rifles AB machine guns-with a simple handgun.

It's also very refreshing to see Gary Oldman return to the role of a villain. Younger audiences now see Oldman as a good guy after portraying famous literary protagonists such as Sirius Black in the Harry Potter films and Jim Gordon in the recent Batman series. While there's nothing at all wrong with that, I was starting to miss Oldman's villain days, including classic turns as a drug addicted cop in Leon The Professional and a Russian terrorist in Air Force One. Oldman shows his versatility in Eli, where he makes his character a complete psycho.

When I first saw that Kunis was cast in this film, I was a little worried. Sure, everybody loves Mila, but could the star of comedies like That 70's Show and Forgetting Sarah Marshall make the transition in a serious film? Kunis plays her role well, but she should stick with the comedies until she's given a character with more to do.

The Book of Eli isn't perfect with its choppy action sequences or pacing issues, but its a fun film nonetheless. It's films like these that keep the post-apocalyptic genre alive and well.

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District 9 (2009)

9/10

A New Species of Sci Fi

29 August 2009

Aliens come to Earth. Which means they're here to attack and destroy us right? Usually, that's the case. We've seen it in countless film, like Independence Day, Alien Vs Predator, and even Mars Attacks. However, Peter Jackson and first time director Neil Blomkamp take us in a different direction with their film District 9. Blomkamp avoids all the alien movie clichés, including an all star cast and a major American city.

Instead of a hostile alien species, the aliens in District 9 are leaderless drones who make an emergency landing over the city of Johannesburg, South Africa (rather than New York or LA). The aliens are malnourished and leaderless, so the South African government places them in District 9, which quickly becomes a slum crawling with aliens and South African gangsters who demand to learn how to use the aliens' supercool weapons. The aliens begin causing trouble within the city, sparking a relocation effort led by the evil MNU (Multi National United) Corporation. All MNU really cares about is learning how the alien weapons work, much like the gangsters. However, neither side has learned anything.

Leading the eviction cause is Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), a enthusiastic MNU agent who passes through District 9 with glee, happily evicting the aliens (who will do anything for a can of cat food) and burning down houses with their unborn young inside. The eviction sequences are what JJ Abram's Cloverfield should've been. Copley ad-libbed all his lines during the "documentary" sequence of the film, and he makes feel as if we're watching an actual documentary. Wikus' world goes to hell, however, when he sprays himself with some alien liquid. On the plus (or minus, depending on how you look at it) side, he can operate the supercool alien weapons. He becomes the most wanted man in the world, and hides with a friendly alien (and the alien's cute son) in District 9.

It's refreshing to see a new sci fi flick after so many clichéd failures (the recent Star Wars Episodes I and II). A native South African, Blomcamp casts mainly his fellow countrymen into his film. Copley, who helped Blomkamp create Alive in Joburg, the short film D9 is based off of, is destined to be a star some day. It's also good to see a sci fi movie set in another major city in another country. And, finally, the aliens are not the bad guys in the film. As lame as it sounds, District 9 may make you embarrassed to be a human.

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Inglourious Basterds (2009)

10/10

An Inglourious Pick for the Best Film of the Year!

28 August 2009

This summer, everyone I know waited for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Me? I waited in great anticipation for the new film from my favorite director Quentin Tarantino, a World War II revenge epic entitled Inglourious Basterds. And, I will admit, it did not disappoint.

While Tarantino is known for his over the top violence, it's not the blood and gore that makes his films so good. It's the long sessions of dialog. While this may turn some film goers off (like my friends who preferred the aforementioned Transformers), to me it's what makes his films roll. If you pay attention, the dialog is very funny and entertaining. Plus, the action is more exciting and unexpected when QT sticks it in the middle of the conversation.

In his previous films, Tarantino used mainstream Hollywood stars for his films. However, with the exception of Brad Pitt and a cameo by a nearly unrecognizable Mike Myers (fans of The Office will recognize BJ Novak aka Ryan), you probably won't recognize nearly three quarters of the actors in the film. All of the foreign actors in the film are terrific, and they give a sense of realism to the film. Melanie Laurent, a French actress, is Shosanna, a young Jewish girl who plans to burn down her cinema with Nazi leaders inside. Among the Basterds are Til Schweiger, a sadistic German who kills Nazis in creative ways, and Michael Fassbender as a British war leader. As for Pitt, he portrays the leader of the Basterds, a hillbilly named Aldo Raine. Raine is an awesome character, and a role only Pitt could play. He leads his all Jewish team into France where they do "one thang and one thang only-(kill) Nazis". Myers's cameo is small, but you can't believe how unrecognizable he is. Hopefully, Myers gets his career back on track after duds like The Love Guru and The Cat in the Hat (easily one of the worst films ever). Eli Roth, best known as the director of Hostel, is on hand to portray Donnie, a Bostonian Jew who beats Nazis with a baseball bat. Roth is not only a good director, but a good actor as well. He previously cameoed in Tarantino's Death Proof, and hopefully more roles are on his way. But Christoph Waltz steals the show as the crazy Nazi general Hans Landa. Waltz speaks every language in the movie, and portrays Landa perfectly. You really can't like Waltz since he portrays a Nazi, but hopefully some better roles are headed his way. Some film goers will recognize Diane Krueger, who portrays German actress Bridget von Hammerstark, a spy working for the Allies. Krueger is best known for portraying Nicolas Cage's love interest in National Treasure. There, she seemed pure American. In this film, she speaks her native German perfectly, showing her versatility.

So, as the summer ends, I have to say I came in with a bad attitude about the summer of 09 (movie-wise anyway). However, with films like Basterds, The Hangover, and District 9, I think film goers will remember 09's movies for long to come.

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Fired Up! (2009)

6/10

It's Not Rudy...But It's Not Rocky V either...

20 August 2009

I've come to the conclusion that cheerleading is a sport, so yeah, Fired Up is a sports movie. Get over it. I'm not saying it's among the likes of Rudy and Hoosiers as far as other sports movies go, but it's fun and enjoyable.

What makes the film enjoyable is it's simple plot: Two football heroes (Nick D'Agosto and Eric Christian Olsen), tired of the game and their constantly swearing coach (Phil Baker Hall, in an underrated role), ditch football to attend a cheerleading camp, where they're surrounded by nothing but girls, including their pretty captain (hello, Sarah Roemer). Sounds perfect, right? When you add an enthusiastic cheer coach (John Michael Higgins, who deserves a heck of a lot more attention than he gets) and the actual cheerleading, heaven takes a turn for the worse. Basically, these guys live out a nearly perfect male fantasy, and it gets some funny results.

The film isn't perfect, though. At 90 minutes, it feels a little short. Also, some the actors seem a bit old for the roles they were playing (Olsen is 31). And finally, some of the unfunny gags in the movie are replayed over and over, much to my annoyance.

But, the point is, Fired Up is a fun, silly sports movie. Don't like it? Go watch Friday Night Lights again then.

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Funny People (2009)

3/10

Funny People? More Like Depressing People

12 August 2009

How can a movie starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, and Jason Schwartzman, and directed by Judd Apatow not be funny? Heck, the title of the movie is Funny People! However, sometimes you really have to be careful what you wish for.

Funny People's premise at first seems promising. Adam Sandler as a stand-up comic who takes an aspiring young comic (Rogen) under his wing. Then we find out...Sandler's character is dying. That's when Funny People isn't so funny. I'm not a fan of comedic actors doing serious roles. In fact, I usually downright hate it (see my review for Will Ferrell's Stranger Than Fiction for proof). Sandler basically sulks around screen for 2 and a half hours complaining that he's had a crappy life and finds solace in Rogen's character. Enter Mann, as Sandler's ex-fiancé, and also enter more sappiness and more clichés (OMG! They're falling for each other again! But wait! She's married! And has kids!).

Now don't get me wrong. There are some bits of Funny People where I laughed like a baby. The funniest scenes are easily the ones involving Rogen, Hill and Schwartzman. A close second involves Sandler's doctor, a European man whose accent Rogen and Sandler make fun off. The doc, though, manages to sneak a few one liners in too.

Even with the aforementioned scenes, they're not enough to save this film. Apatow pulls his usual magic: starting off with a hilariously funny film...then slowly drifting into romantic drama/chick flick territory. He did the same thing with The 40-Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up and does the same thing to a greater extent with Funny People.

After Funny People, I'm losing faith in Apatow. If you want to see some real comedy (and some real funny people like Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis) go see Todd Phillips' The Hangover. Awesome film and very funny. With Apatow becoming more and more sappier, and Phillips becoming more and more happier, (with films like The Hangover and Old School), a new director king of comedy may be in our future.

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Transporter 3 (2008)

8/10

Just admit it Statham haters...Jason can act!

3 July 2009

Some action movie stars simply depend on the stunts and special effects to make the movie succeed (that means you Steven Segal!). Jason Statham is not one of those actors. Statham is known for his high octane action flicks like Crank and Death Race, but he has also shown he can act with films like Snatch and Revolver, films in which little to no explosions were involved. While the 3rd installment of the Transporter series depends heavily on car chases and guns, Statham is able to inject a sense of feeling and humanity into Frank Martin, the titular Transporter.

Part 3 of the series follows Frank and his return to France, where he is forced by an evil American (Robert Knepper) to transport a politician's daughter (Natalya Rudakova) across Europe. The film gets a bit deeper, but for the sake of spoilers I won't get into it. Viewers with no sense of fun will immediately point out plot holes, but honestly, this is a fun and crazy film.

The plot takes a little away from the film's greatness, but there are a few more things that keep it from being perfect. Rudakova's character gets annoying once she begins to bond with Frank. But let's keep in mind, this was her film debut, so things can only go up from here. The only other thing I could find wrong with the movie was the fact that the film tried to give a environmental friendly feel (don't ask).

There's one thing (other than Statham) that makes the Transporter series so great. Not the special effects. Not the fact that Luc Besson is involved. It's the character of Insepctor Tarconi. Other than Frank, Tarconi (Francois Berleand) is the only character to appear in all 3 Transporter films. Berleand portrays the French cop with a cool swagger and is a great source of comic relief. I really wish American audiences would see more of this guy.

On the scale of Transporter films, it was better than the 2nd, but doesn't surpass the original. So, along with my recommendation, I leave you with this...enjoy this is film. But when you're done, join me in praying that Statham will return for a 4th turn as The Transporter.

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

3/10

Robot Scenes=10/10 The Rest? Not So Much

3 July 2009

I'm 17, so I was supposed to love Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen right? It had everything from Optimus Prime to Megan Fox. What's not to like? The answer: plenty.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Michael Bay fan. I loved Armageddon and Bad Boys, and I was a fan of the first Transformers film. But Bay messed up big time with the sequel. Normally, I'd try to find ways to defend Bay, but this is his fault. The skill he showed in his previous summer blockbusters is gone. Even though Bay screws up big time, it's not entirely his fault.

While the robot cast is terrific (Peter Cullen should get an Oscar nom for his portrayal of Optimus), most of the human cast is dreadful. Don't get me wrong, I like Shia LaBeouf, but he's really trying too hard in this flick. He stutters half his lines and when he's not doing that, he's just yelling nonsense. As if that's not bad enough, he gets more Razzie help with his annoying parents and an equally annoying roommate. On the contrary, the Transformers girls, Fox and Isabel Lucas, are great additions to this film. For the ladies, there's Josh Duhamel and Tyrese Gibson, but he barely gets any time. And John Tuturro, genius in the first film, is superb, but by the time he hits the screen (about an hour and a half into the film) it's a lost cause.

Even the robots are not safe from error. There's these two annoying robots who are bound to stir up some type of controversy. They are annoying, rude, and unnecessary. In addition, the main villain, the titular Fallen, is introduced, but then forgotten about and not revisited until an hour later. Rest assured, this happens numerous times, which also leads to questions about the length (a crappy 2 1/2 hours) Overall, Transformers 2 was a big, loud mess. As far as robot movies go, Terminator Salvation was much better. Call me what you will, but I did not like it. Everyone I know loved it, but maybe that's another thing. The hype machine was overflowed, so maybe that's why I was disappointed. But who knows? Maybe you're asking the wrong guy. Need proof? While my friends waited for this, I'm just counting the days until Inglourious Basterds comes out. But heed my warning. Don't transform your cash into a ticket for a crappy movie

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The Hangover (2009)

10/10

A Comedy We All Desperately Needed

11 June 2009

In rough times like these, we need a good comedy to make us laugh and put a smile on our faces. The Hangover is that movie. Its a raunchy rowdy crazy good time, featuring everything from retro Mercedes to Mike Tyson. So far, it's easily the best film I've seen all year.

The story revolves around a trip to Las Vegas gone wrong, which sometimes works (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and sometimes dosen't (What Happens In Vegas). Two best friends, the cool schoolteacher Phil (Bradley Cooper) and the nerdy dentist Stu (Ed Helms), along with the bride's brother Alan (Zach Galifianakis) wake up in their room in Caesar's Palace, with no recollection of what happened the night before, which they spent having a wild bachelor party for their friend Doug (Justin Bartha). Turns out, there's a tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the closet, Stu's missing a tooth,and (for reasons unexplained) there's a chicken in the kitchen. And, oh yeah, Doug's nowhere to be found. The three race around Sin City searching for the groom, where more crazy stuff starts happening. When the valet brings their car, it's a police car. Stu is married to a stripper (Heather Graham, beautiful as ever). They apparently had a run in with a mean gangster (Ken Jeong). They went to Mike Tyson's house. The list goes on and on, each misadventure produces more hilarity than the last.

The cast is pretty much a poor man's Judd Apatow, without the cheap love story sandwiched in (yes, Knocked Up and The 40 Year Old Virgin were classics, but turned slowly into chick flick territory). Most of the guys you know you have seen, but just can't put a name to a face. Helms, best known as Rainn Wilson's rival on The Office, plays the role of Stu perfectly. He plays the delusional Stu with great humor, especially when he goes crazy on the others. As the closest thing to a lead, Cooper is the laid back guy who tries to keep everyone under control. Hopefully more lead roles are headed his way. Galifianakis plays the annoying Alan with perfect poise, that when he when he dosen't fret over the tiger when he first sees it, you just have to wonder why no one discovered him until now. Bartha's screen time is reduced, due to the fact he's missing for half the film, but he does his job well and manages to crack some good ones before he goes missing. There are some enjoyable cameos by Mike Epps, Tyson, and Jeffrey Tambor that will keep you laughing as well.

Overall, The Hangover is one of the funniest films I've ever seen, and, as I said earlier, the best I've seen all year. A sequel is already being written, but I'm not sure if I want it. But knowing these guys, if they could make a comedy about anything, I'd probably watch it.

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

8/10

Fincher and Pitt have done it Again!

29 December 2008

David Fincher has simply improved with every film he has done. He started off with the underrated Alien 3, then moved on to the mysterious Se7en, gave us his greatest hit with Fight Club, stayed strong with Panic Room, and, most recently, treated us with the chilling thriller Zodiac. Now, he gives us The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but you wouldn't know that Ficher directed it if you didn't see his name at the end of the film.

Once again, Fincher teams up with Brad Pitt, who portrays the title character. Pitt, who was terrific in Se7en and even better in Fight Club, portrays a character he dosen't usually portray. Benjamin Button is a tragic yet determined individual, who has the slight problem of aging backwards. Whoever did the CGI effects in this movie deserves an Oscar. Early on, Pitt portrays Benjamin Button as a seven year who looks like he's in his 80's. You will not believe that it is Brad Pitt under all that makeup and CGI.

As good as he is, Brad Pitt can't carry the film by himself. After all, he needed the respective help from Morgan Freeman and Edward Norton to make Se7en and Fight Club work. Fincher's male lead comes mainly from Jason Flemyng and Jared Harris. Flemyng does a convincing job as Benjamin's father. I didn't even recognize Flemyng, who I thought played a classic role in Guy Ritchie's Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. And Harris is terrific as Captain Mike, a man Benjamin befriends while working at sea.

Fincher also succeeds once again with his female lead. After working with Gwyneth Paltrow on Se7en, Helena Bonham Carter in Fight Club and Jodie Foster in Panic Room, Cate Blanchette is excellent. Cast as Benjamin's love interest, she is simply perfect. She has terrific chemistry with Pitt, especially in the touching scenes where she grows older and he grows younger.

Overall, a terrific film. If I have any complaints, I have to say, the film didn't know to quit while it was ahead. What could've been a nice two hour film is stretched out to nearly three hours. And the early scenes showing the wrinkled baby Benjamin Button are a tad disturbing to look at. But I will say this. I'm not the type of guy who loves all these "Oscar Worthy" flicks. But take my advice...trust Fincher and Pitt to work their magic all over again.

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RocknRolla (2008)

10/10

Rocknrollin its way to one of the best films of the year

27 October 2008

Everybody loved Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. Everyone hated Swept Away and Revolver. The question was, how was Guy Ritchie's latest film, Rocknrolla, going to do? From what I've seen, everyone better love this movie! This film has it all: gunfights, gangsters, British slang, Gerard Butler, memorable lines, and even some poorly behaved American crayfish. Somehow, Ritchie finds enough film time to fit cameos by Jeremy Piven and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges in there.

Butler returns to the kind of the role that made him a household name in 300. Butler stars as Mr One-Two, a criminal who isn't afraid to speak out his mind, or let his fists do the talking. It's good to see Butler return to the badass role after starring in soft films such as PS I Love You and Nim's Island. Tom Wilkinson, fresh off an Oscar run in Michael Clayton, stars as Lenny Cole, a tough, old school British mobster who is prone to some senior moments. Ritchie's trademark of having the stories intertwine comes into play, something that made Snatch and Lock Stock work so well. Lenny, who has cheated One-Two out of a land deal in London, is working with some Russians, led by the businessman Yuri (Karel Roden), on a land deal. However, One-Two steals Yuri's money meant for Lenny. This sets up a chain of events which lead to dead bodies and more.

While Snatch focused on a stolen diamond and Lock Stock focused on stolen guns, Rocknrolla chooses to focus on a stolen painting. You see, it's Yuri's lucky painting, and he's let Lenny borrow it. Turns out, the painting has been stolen by Lenny's wild stepson Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell), a crazy, stoned rocker. While some fans will complain about how Ritchie films always seem to be about something stolen, I just feel if it ain't broke don't fix it! Aside from Butler and Wilkinson, fans will love performances by the all star cast including a sexy accountant (Thandie Newton), One-Two's partners (Idris Elba and Tom Hardy), and two American club owners (Bridges and Piven). However, Kebbell and Mark Strong absolutely steal the show. As the stoned rocker, Kebbell makes us feel compassion for the Johnny Quid character, and we eventually root for him against his mean ol stepdad. Strong, fresh off a classic role as a good natured hit-man in Ritchie's Revolver, portrays Archie, Lenny's loyal right hand mate. Archie is a no nonsense criminal who also serves as the voice of reason in Lenny's crazy world. Archie is without a doubt one of Ritchie's finest characters.

American filmgoers will probably complain that the film is too "British". As an American, I honestly say, "Who cares?" Ritchie's use of British slang is fun, hip and gives this action film a sense of humor. If this is too much for American filmgoers, then they will be glad that this film somewhat reminds them of a film directed by the great American director Quentin Tarantino. A dance scene between Butler and Newton seems directly pulled from Pulp Fiction, a scene where Johnny tortures a man to the tune of The Subways' Rock n Roll Queen seems like a sly Reservoir Dogs reference, and the unseen painting will have fans guessing, much like the briefcase from Pulp Fiction. In addition, the opening credits sequence is on of the best you will ever see. The sequence almost has a graphic novel feel to it, something we Americans love (examples: 300, Sin City, 30 Days of Night).

Overall, Ritchie gives us a deep, crazy, and fun film. When it's over, you think how this film could possibly be made better. As if right on cue, the question is answered. A sequel, The Real Rocknrolla, is announced on screen. A perfect 10, I can hardly wait for The Real Rocknrolla.

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Revolver (2005)

8/10

A film that deserves (and requires) multiple viewings

25 October 2008

Revolver is written and directed by Guy Ritchie, but you wouldn't know that if you didn't watch the film knowing who the director was. Ritchie, best known as the guy who made us applaud Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch (and the guy who made us cry with the dreadful Swept Away) returns with his fourth effort. It is not at all like Snatch or Lock Stock. Rather, Ritchie gives us a film that will play games with our minds. Those with short attention spans need not apply. You will simply complain.

Ritchie thankfully casts Jason Statham in the lead role. After not appearing in Swept Away, which was anything but a typical Ritchie film, Statham brings a sense of craziness to this film, something of which is in infinite supply in Ritchie's world. Statham portrays Jake Green, a con artist who has spent seven years in solitary. Eager to avenge the man who put him there, a sleazy casino owner named Macha (Ray Liotta), Jake agrees to pay two mysterious loan sharks (Andre Benjamin and Vincent Pastore) his life savings in order to avenge Macha. The two sharks, Zack and Avi, are mesmerized by Jake's monologues about a "formula" Jake learned from his "neighbors" while in prison. The formula allows the user to win any game he plays, for example, chess. Jake takes the formula beyond the chess board and into his life, where it has startling effects.

Revolver has received much criticism before its American release. The question I ask is, "Why?" Yes, I will admit, the film is very confusing. Sequences will make some fans question Ritchie's film-making, but I really see no reason to hate this film, other than the fact you are a person who demands explosions and gun fight on screen every few seconds. Sure, Revolver is no Snatch or Lock Stock, but it is a fun and enjoyable film. Statham adds to his list of classic character with Jake Green. Green is a very hard character to understand, but thanks to Statham's acting, we sympathize with Jake, and we remain interested in the character. But Mark Strong completely steals the show as a creepy hit-man named Sorter. Strong portrays the character with the type of badass that silent...but deadly.

Overall, I really can a few flaws with Revolver. The confusing plot, and the fact that Ritchie slapped a terrible hair job on Statham's head. I don't know if it's just me, but Jason Statham must be bald when doing films. If you want to mess with a guy's hair, Mr Ritchie, please make more films with Benicio Del Toro. Don't make Jason Statham wear hair. But I'll forgive you. Make a good movie. Make me think. Oh wait. You just did.

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The Comebacks (2007)

6/10

Best Spoof Film we'll see in a long, long, time

23 August 2008

Yes, everyone loves the Scary Movies and Hot Shots, but spoof films have really gotten out of hand. With disasters like Epic Movie, Date Movie, Superhero Movie, etc, is there really anything left to be spoofed? Sure, I'm a guy who likes stupid comedies with bathroom humor, crotch kicks and all that stuff, but those movies just abuse it. Enter The Comebacks, a stupid, yet entertaining, take on the inspirational sports flick.

David Koechner (best known as Champ Kind from Anchorman) finally gets a well deserved lead role and makes the most of it. Sure, all he does is act like a complete moron, but that's what Koechner does best. He just simply looks like he's having fun being a complete moron. Carl Weathers, a veteran of the Rocky films, lends a small supporting hand. There are some funny cameos by folks such as Dennis Rodman and Frank Caliendo. Some of the films spoofed successfully include Friday Night Lights, Remember the Titans, Rudy, Rocky and Coach Carter. Some sad spoof attempts are made at films such as Radio and Stick It. On the other hand, those who watch ESPN will like seeing sports issues spoofed such as the Duke lacrosse scandal, and Terrell Owens.

So, if you're the type of person who's willing to laugh at stupid things...enjoy! If not, just skip and save everyone the complaining.

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The Mummy (1999)

10/10

The Mummy...Dig it!

21 August 2008

Let's face it, not too many people remember the 1932 film The Mummy very well. But its 1999 remake is an Egyptian thrill ride complete with explosions, flesh eating scarabs, Brendan Fraser, desert people, plagues, Rachel Weiez, and, of course, a cool mummy. The movie assumes you have an imagination (I do obviously) and is nothing but a fun time.

Brendan Fraser stars as Rick O'Connell, who will remind people of Indiana Jones, but more badass. Fraser portrays Rick as a wise-cracking American who is searching for treasure beneath the sands of an ancient Egyptian city. He is also escorting Evy (Weiez), a nerdy but pretty British librarian, and her brother Jonathan (John Hannah), who, like Rick, is interested in striking gold. Trouble starts when Evy accidentally awakes Ihmotep (Arnold Vosloo), a former priest of a Pharoah that was mummified alive for murdering the said Pharaoh, after having an affair with his mistress (Patricia Velazquez). Things go from bad to worse when Rick's "buddy" Bennie (Kevin J O'Connor) sides with Ihmotep in exchange for gold. Joining the battle to kill the mummy is the leader of a desert people tribe (Oded Fehr) who warned the party in vain to leave the city or die.

The film is not only a great action movie, but it can also be considered a comedy. Fraser and Hannah frequently crack out classic one liners such as Fraser's "If I don't make it outta here, don't put me down for mummification" and Hannah simply showing disgust when a group of Americans are seen having fun when the desert people attack. O'Connor is funny as the bumbling Benny, and Weiez simply works her magic on Fraser. These two have some great on screen chemistry. Fehr is awesome as a gun shooting desert guy. And while the mummy is a bit whiney, Vosloo does a good job with part anyway.

An excellent film. A perfect 10, and I definitely recommend the film's sequels as well.

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Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

4/10

Good action movie, but bad Indy movie

21 August 2008

Warning: Spoilers

Eighteen years after we last saw him, Indiana Jones is back, but not necessarily better than ever. Indy returns for a 4th adventure, which has the potential to be great, but in the end makes you just sit there with a stupid puzzled look on your face. Yes, the first three Indy movies had preposterous moments (the car chase on a cliff from Raiders of the Lost Ark comes to mind) but the preposterous moments in this film make you say "Oh come on, really Spielberg?" Eighteen years after Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr. (Harrison Ford, awesome as usual) is battling treasure seeking Soviets, as opposed to treasure seeking Nazis. The Soviets are led by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchette), who will stop at nothing to get this treasure. Indy is soon called upon by his love interest from Raiders, Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), a former colleague gone mad (John Hurt) and a greaser who may or may not be his son (Shia LaBeouf). Once Indy joins up with this group, they're driving, fighting, running, and more in order to return a crystal skull to its original resting spot.

As I stated before, this Indy movie really jumps the shark, or, as you will say after viewing this movie, nukes the fridge (don't ask). Sure, the film is rated PG-13, but it felt like Spielberg tried to treat us like we were all 10 years old in this one. For example, in one scene, LaBeouf gets separated from the group. How does he end back with them? He joins some monkeys in swinging from branches. Also, some of the character get annoying after a while. For example, Indy's archaeologist friend Mac (Ray Winstone) flips sides more than a pancake at the IHOP. And Hurt's character is insane, but the filmmakers seem to think this is funny, and they make an ill fated attempt to make him the comic relief.

The movie does, however, have some redeeming qualities. Of course, Harrison Ford can make bad movies fun. The action scenes are pretty cool. And finally, the Indiana Jones movie are known for their creepy critters such as snakes and rats. This installment does not disappoint as we are treated to scorpions and man eating red ants.

Overall, a fun action flick, but if you are a true Indiana Jones fan, you'll be wishing that Indiana hung up the fedora and whip after The Last Crusade. However...the ending of this film does leave room open for a sequel. Let's hope for the best Indy fans!

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Death Proof (2007)

10/10

Death Proof > Planet Terror

11 August 2008

Call me crazy. Call me what you will. I seriously think Death Proof is better than Planet Terror in every imaginable way. This is classic Tarantino. Quentin uses the techniques that made him famous, and makes a movie filled with conversation very interesting.

Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell, badass once more) is a stuntman who travels the country meeting girls and luring them into his "death proof" car. However, the car is only death proof for him, and always results in the girls' deaths. However, when Mike picks on a group of badass babes (Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms, and Zoe Bell), he may just have met his match.

Viewers will complain about the long sessions of dialogue in this film. If they do, why are they watching a Quentin Tarantino film? Did you complain about the long dialogues in Pulp Fiction (The Jack Rabbit Slim's scene comes to mind)? How about the opening diner scene from Reservoir Dogs? That scene is basically recreated by Dawson, Thoms, Bell and Mary Elizabeth Winstead in one portion of the film. What, it's okay for Tarantino discuss Madonna and Steve Buscemi discuss tipping, but it's not okay to hear why Thoms' character carries a gun? The character frequently bring up pop culture as well. So what if Stuntman Mike brings up old TV shows you've never heard of? I'm sure you never heard of Get Christie Love before Buscemi, Harvey Keitel, Chris Penn and Tim Roth discussed it in Reservoir Dogs.

Overall, Tarantino does not make films for the man with the attention span of Dory from Finding Nemo. Tarantino puts juice in conversations, iucluding a particularly interesting one between Michael and James Parks. Tarantino works his magic via soundtrack too. You will immediately go on iTunes to get it.

A Perfect 10, and I cannot wait for more efforts from Quentin Tarantino.

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Grindhouse (2007)

10/10

Crazy Good Fun!

8 August 2008

Warning: Spoilers

I was not alive for the height of exploitation films. After viewing Grindhouse, I sure wish I was. Robert Rodriuguez (From Dusk Till Dawn, Sin City) and Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill) have already combined to form some excellent films, but this time, they really outdid themselves. As the film's poster will tell you, Quentin and Robert deliver 2 1/2 hours of pure dynamite! And, with a little help from their friends, they have managed to pull off an excellent double feature, which leaves you heading over to Blockbuster to pick more grindhouse flicks.

First up is Rodriguez's Planet Terror, which features a go-go dancer named Cherry (Rose McGowan) teaming up with others, including her ex-boyfriend El Ray (Freddy Rodriguez), to stop vicious man-eating zombies from taking over the world. This film is typical Rodriguez: A 2 hour complation of sex and violence, but intelligently put together. Since this is supposed to be a Grindhouse flick, the violence and sex is really high. Marley Shelton, Josh Brolin, Naveen Andrews, Michael Bihen, and Jeff Fahey co-star. Fans will love cameos by Tarantino, Stacy Ferguson (better known as Fergie), and Bruce Willis. It's fun to see Bihen back in a badass role, bringing us back to the days where he was making us applaud in The Terminator and Aliens. Be warned, though. If you're not the type of film-goer with an imagination, you're gonna hate this film.

Next up is the superior half of Grindhouse, Tarantino's Death Proof. Kurt Russell, also badass once more, stars as a psycho stuntman, who stalks and kills young women with his vintage cars. Among his prey are a group of Texas girls (Vannessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Sydney Tamilla Potheier, and McGowan) and a group of Hollywood startlets (Rosario Dawson, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Zoe Bell). Filmgoers who want nothing with buckets of blood violence in every minute of the film need not apply. Yes, Death Proof is violent, but Tarantino works his classic magic in this segment. The infamous diner scene that introduced Reservoir Dogs is basically recreated by one group of girls. The characters constantly talk pop culture, another Tarantino charm. Bell, who is really a stuntwoman in real life, acts quite well, keeping mind that she's not really an actor. The film ends with a 20 minute car chase that belongs with the great ones like Vanishing Point. Maybe it's just because I'm a huge Tarantino fan, but Death Proof really beats out Planet Terror.

In between the two films, fake grindhouse trailers are inserted. Rodriguez opens with Machete, a film about a Mexican vigilante, before his segment. In between the films, Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz) presents Don't, a nod to British horror films. Rob Zombie (The Devil's Rejects) presents Werewolf Women of the SS (title pretty much explains it all). And Eli Roth (Hostel) gives us Thanksgiving, a parody of slasher flicks. The trailers are very funny and very entertaining. Guys like Nicolas Cage, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, Will Arnett, and Simon Pegg stop by to say hello during the trailer as well. Also, in the two films, Michael Parks returns to reprise his awesome character of Texas Ranger Earl McGraw. His son, James, also reprises the role of his son.

So, in closing, your grindhouse experience won't end when this movie's over. You'll be so tempted to see what the real thing was like, this film basically just started it.

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Cloverfield (2008)

8/10

Fun, yet questionable

8 August 2008

JJ Abrams kept us in the dark with his film Cloverfield. Now that it's here, it's safe to say it lived up to expectations-and then some. Abrams gives a monster we've never seen before, a camera view we've seen only once before (The Blair Witch Project), and a film we probably won't see for a long time.

The film centers on a going away party in honor of Rob Hawkins (Michael Stahl-David), who is moving to Japan for a job. The party is being thrown by his brother Jason (Mike Vogel) and Jason's girlfriend Lily (Jessica Lucas). Rob's best friend Hud (TJ Miller, in a role that seems like it was written for Rainn Wilson) is given filming duties for the evening, and we see the night's events from his point of view. Later that night, the party ends early when a huge monster attacks town. What makes this film great is that not only do we have a huge monster, but we have little monsters too. Rob and his friends later go searching in New York for Beth (Odette Yustman), his ex-girlfriend, whom Rob clearly still loves.

While the film has its good qualities (The monster(s), the special effects, Hud), it is sadly held back with its few problems. For one thing, it left more questions unanswered than it did answered. Sure that's fun, but this movie just went overboard on the unanswered questions. Another thing, with the exception of Hud, I found the other character quite annoying. And finally, the movie is just way too short.

Overall, a great and fun film. Please, please, please, JJ...make a sequel.

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The Dark Knight (2008)

9/10

Puts the "Dark" in Dark Knight

19 July 2008

Warning: Spoilers

In a summer of comic book movies, deciding which one was the best is a hard task. So far we have been treated to film adaptations of Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and a Hellboy sequel, all of which were very good. The Dark Knight makes the decision even harder.

Christopher Nolan's sequel to the already excellent Batman Begins is better than the original, better than all four Burton/Schumaker films combined, and better than other comic book films such as every Superman movie ever made. Christian Bale returns as the Caped Crusader, reprising the role that made him a star. Bale once again blows us all away as he makes Michael Keaton look like George Clooney in the Batsuit. However, there is a reason the word "Batman" is not in the title: This movie belongs to not Batman, but the Joker. The late Heath Ledger makes his presence felt in his final film. Compared to Ledger's Joker, Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime in Tim Burton's 1989 version of Batman is the equivalent of the disaster that was Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr Freeze in Batman and Robin.

The film picks up a few months after "Begins". Gotham City (a thinly disguised Chicago) is becoming safer thanks to the efforts of Batman, good cop Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and new Gotham DA Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). The real Batman, Bruce Wayne, is facing some problems in social life, much like Peter Parker in Spider Man 2. Dent is currently dating Bruce's childhood sweetheart Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllhanall who replaces Katie Holmes). Gotham is suddenly threatened by The Joker, a sadistic killer who wears clown makeup and gets a kick out of torture. When Nicholson did the role, he went for laughs. Ledger does the same. The only difference is when Jack tried to be funny, he did silly things like point a gun with an outrageously long barrel. When Heath tries to be funny he does magic. He makes a pencil disappear! Wanna know how he does it, kids? He puts the pencil on the table, then throws a guy head-on into the pencil! Sir Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman reprise their respective roles as Alfred and Lucius Fox. Both are a couple of the greatest actors we have ever seen, and are not afraid to demonstrate. They both are the voice of reason in Bruce Wayne's crazy brain, and crack out the funny one liners to lighten the mood of this dark film.

Speaking of the film's darkness, it's not a great idea to bring the kiddies to this one. This is darker than all of the previous five and even some adults may be affected by Ledger's death when viewing this film. It's impossible not to think of Heath's passing when he is on screen, and some images seem a bit disturbing due to his death. For example, there is one scene where The Joker hides in a body bag to avoid some rival gangsters.

Ledger, once again, makes this film. Fans, like myself, will love his memorable quotes such as "Why so SERIOUS?" or "Let's put a smile on that face!". However, sometimes Ledger makes his presence felt by not saying a word at all. For example, a scene where The Joker, dressed in as a nurse, blows up a hospital, is made funny in a sick way. Heath simply walks through the crumbling building as explosions go off behind him. After a while they stop. Ledger, makes a few funny faces, messes around with a controller, then casually walks away as the building explodes.

Ledger couldn't have done it without a little help, though. Oldman's Gordon is given a much bigger role in the film, much to the viewer's delight. While everybody loved Oldman is "Begins", "TDK" establishes Gordon as the greatest hero in Gotham not named Batman. Eckhart is great as Dent, and even better as the villainous Two-Face, who Dent becomes when his face is horribly scarred by The Joker. Eckhart makes fans forget about Batman Forever, where Tommy Lee Jones completely butchered the part.

Sadly, though, the film is not without its few flaws. Gyllanhall has no chemistry on screen with anyone, not even Bale. Katie Holmes is, surprisingly, missed. Caine is very good, but his role is made smaller in this film. And finally, one of the things that made "Begins" so good was Cillian Murphy's Scarecrow. Sadly, Scarecrow makes only a quick appearance that has almost nothing to do with the plot. He is, however, spared, leaving Scarecrow fans, like myself, hopeful.

Overall, The Dark Knight makes us love the comic book film even more. It also gives us a tragic reminder...we are Definitely going to miss Heath Ledger.

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The Happening (2008)

7/10

If this is the worst M Night can do...he's a good director.

3 July 2008

Warning: Spoilers

I have always been a fan of M Night Shymalan and have always taken some ridicule for it after The Village and Lady in the Water, which I personally enjoyed. I already took criticism for The Happening. And yes, I will admit, it was M Night's worst film yet...but that dosen't make it bad.

M Night's latest effort stars Mark Whalberg as a Philadelphia science teacher. Once again, M Night casts a great lead role as Whalberg follows in the steps of Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix and Paul Giamatti. Whalberg made this film interesting and fun. Shymalan tries to join in on the fun with his plot which features people in the Northeast killing themselves in gruesome ways. One of the reasons this is not Shymalan's best work is that here he tries to frighten us by showing these depictions of death. However, sometimes they just come off silly. For example, one man starts a lawn mower and intentionally allows it to run over him. In addition, one of the things that made M Night's other films successful was his quirky characters, like Abigail Breslin in Signs, when she portrayed Gibson's daughter who had a fear of tap water. Shymalan tries this tactic again in The Happening, but the characters, such as an old lady separated from the rest of society, come off even sillier.

The Happening does redeem itself with its "monster". When the carnage first occurs, the initial blame is attributed to terrorists. Later, it is thought that plants have been communicating with each other. Fed up with our treatment, the plants release toxins inside of them, causing humanity to fall one by one. Shymalan passes this test with flying colors. It's almost like he presents us an interesting version of An Inconvenient Truth. Also, Shymalan asks us the question, "How do you fight and flee from something...when you don't know what it is? It is, indeed, Shymalan's worst effort yet. But when he releases his next film...it's gonna be one heck of a redemption.

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Hancock (2008)

2/10

Makes Wild Wild West look Oscar-Worthy

1 July 2008

Warning: Spoilers

Wild Wild West was OK, but still Will Smith's worst film. However, Hancock makes Wild Wild West look like I Am Legend. Will Smith lumbers across the screen as a drunken superhero, not looking like he cares at all about doing this film. As far as superhero films go, this one belong in the trash can along with Batman and Robin, the Eric Bana Hulk, and Superman III and IV.

Smith plays the title character, who really dosen't care what Los Angeles thinks of him. Kind of like Spider Man, except Hancock seems so reluctant to protect these people. Plus, in Spider Man, it was the media that hated him and the people who love him. Here, it's all hate for Hancock. Enter Jason Bateman, who was pretty much the one redeeming quality about this film. As a ordinary guy who tries to improve Hancock's image, Bateman shines in a (almost) lead role like this. Charlize Theron is cast as his pretty wife, who is given pretty much nothing to do for the first hour, except sulk and complain.

The first half hour of this film was all right. It goes upside down when Hancock has to go to jail. There a disgusting scene I won't mention occurs. Next thing you know, Hancock is a changed man, thanks to Bateman. While it was all right the first time, Smith overplays it, and unfortunately becomes downright annoying. Enter an even stupider subplot with Theron, and the films goes down the drain. It's hard for me, a Will Smith fan, to say this, but this film did the impossible: it made Will Smith extremely annoying.

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The Incredible Hulk (2008)

10/10

The Incredible Ed

1 July 2008

Edward Norton has always been my favorite actor, and here is one of the reason why: he can take crap and make it look good. Case in point: The Incredible Hulk. After the 2003 Ang Lee disaster, Norton stars and writes this superhero epic, which is just as good as its companion Iron Man, which I also loved. Norton makes us care about the Bruce Banner character. We actually want him to find a cure for his "illness" and not just break out into a Hulk fit at any random time.

Instead of boring us with a dull backstory like Eric Bana's Hulk did, director Louis Lerterier (The Transporter) opts to show us the backstory in an opening montage during the credits. That way, we get right to the action. Bruce Banner (Norton) is living in Brazil, seeking a cure for his "incident". However, he is tracked down by General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) and Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) who want to use Banner's substances to create "supersoldiers". Eventually, Blonsky takes some of the supersoldier serum and becomes like Banner, only evil. Banner teams up with girlfriend Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) and Dr. Samuel Sterns (Tim Blake Nelson) to find a cure for his rage.

In addition to Norton, it was nice to see Tim Roth finally get a starring role in a film not directed by Quentin Tarantino. Tyler portrays Betty well, and she and Norton have good chemistry on screen. Hurt's Ross was a huge improvement over Sam Elliot's, and Nelson is a fun character who comes off likable.

Fans will love the cameos in this film as well. Tony Stark, aka The Invincible Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) shows up at the end, and Lou Ferrigno makes a cameo. But the real star is Norton and his big bad green self. A Perfect 10, and I cannot wait for The Avengers Movie.

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Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

1/10

Worst. Movie. Ever.

31 May 2008

I sat through Son of the Mask. I survived Spider Man 3. And I barely made through The Ring. But Stranger Than Fiction is the worst film I've ever seen. I'm a huge fan of Will Ferrell, but really, Will, what the heck were you thinking when you accepted this? It sounds promising: a comedy starring Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, Maggie Gyllanhall and Emma Thompson? I'm in! But it the end, the film is a big steaming pile of...y'know.

The plot is promising too. Ferrell plays a depressed IRS agent who has his life narrated by a suicidal author (Thompson) who plans to kill him. While we could've had an Anchorman-esquire comedy with that, we are instead put through visions of Thompson trying to kill herself, Ferrell acting lonely and depressed, and Gyllanhall just being plain annoying. Latifah is given next to nothing to do but roll her eyes at Thompson, and Hoffman does nothing but mumble his few words. I didn't laugh at one scene, unless you count a small chuckle during one of the previews.

I know people praise Ferrell for his performance in this, but I personally hated it. Ferrell sulks on the screen, looking like he wants to chuck himself off a bridge half the time. I like seeing Will Ferrell prancing in an elf outfit, not sulking around Chicago getting into half hearted arguments with a tattooed baker. Overall, a huge disappointment in the career of Will Ferrell. I can only he will recover from it.

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I'm Not There (2007)

10/10

A Legendary Tribute to a Legend

27 May 2008

Bob Dylan, in my humble opinion, is the greatest American singer/songwriter in the history of American music. Todd Haynes does an excellent job of covering this man's epic life. Using six different people, including a woman and an African American kid, to portray Dylan is risky, but it pays off very well. The fact that we get to hear Dylan's greatest hits on top of that is amazing.

The film is split into six segments. Jude (Cate Blanchete) is Dylan in the "Don't Look Back" era. He is a popular singer, outcast by the media and fans due to the complexity of his songs. Jack (Christian Bale) portrays Dylan the born again Christian. Woody (Marcus Carl Franklin) is a kid who idolizes the great Woody Guthrie, just like a young Dylan. Billy (Richard Gere) is Dylan the outlaw in a Billy the Kid vs Pat Garrity (Bruce Greenwood) story. Robbie (Heath Ledger) is Dylan the divorcée, an actor trying to hold on to his wife (Charlotte Gainsbourg). And Arthur (Ben Whishaw) is Dylan the poet.

Not only do the Dylans impress me (Blanchette especially), the supporting cast portrays important figures in his life as well, including Suze Rotolo (Gainsbourg), Allen Ginsburg (David Cross), Joan Baez (Julliane Moore) and Edie Sedgewick (Michelle Williams). The musical segments are very creative as well. The song "Ballad of a Thin Man" is used to torment a reporter named Mr. Jones (Greenwood again) who dosen't understand Jude.

In conclusion Haynes succeeds in this: It is hard to make a biopic. When you do not intend to use your subject's name, it's downright hell. But Haynes is totally up to task. Now if only we could get him to remake "The Doors"...

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