The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Review

You wouldn't say that The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is a classic, but it does successfully entertain me in the 100 minutes of its run time.  

Oz the Great and Powerful Review

Oz is a great movie.  I say this because when I first enter the theater, I didn't expect I will like the film at all.  Don't get me wrong though, I've always been a fan of Sam Raimi, but I just don't think this re-imagined of  Oz would be any good.  I was wrong.

A Good Day to Die Hard Reviews

I'm a big Die Hard fan.  The series is perhaps the only action movies I will openly admit that I like.  So you will know how disappointed I was when the movie turns out to be a mindless cluster-fuck that's no different than Fast and the Furious series, or G.I. Joe.

I always like the series because it's about an Average Joe being put into crazy situations.  Despite the fact that he is under-qualified for the events, he always manages to find a way out of it while kicking some serious ass.  This movie is nothing like the previous films- it has John volunteering to the dangerous situation like a gun crazy asshole.  Just because he keeps on saying he's on vacation, it doesn't stop him from entering into troubles.  Only Americans can go to others' countries and wreck them, right?  Anyway, I always like this series because it's different than other action movie.  You can actually feel the main character is really in a tide spot that he has to think hard to get out off.  This movie is nothing like the previous film, and I thought I was just watching an action movie starring Bruce Willis until he yells out Yippi Ki-Yay motherfucker.  But still, it could be another movie just using the catchphrase.  The movie also lack some of the certainty the other Die Hard movies have.  Every Die Hard movies always have an elevator scene, where John McClane has to somehow utilize an elevator.  This movie has a very short elevator scene, but it is hardly a plot device at all.  It's just a awkward scene from A to B.  This movie also doesn't have the underline theme of "Man VS. Technology."  Ever single movies always have McClane questioning some technologies- either he doesn't understand it, or the movie is plot around such technology.  However, that doesn't happen in this movie.  There really isn't any technology problems for McClane to face, and it just further pulls this movie away from being a Die Hard film.

Aside from the basic elements to make this a Die Hard film, the movie is bad also due to the horrible plot.  The movie has a very weak plot that's difficult for the audience to care.  I don't care about the plot, and I don't even understand the plot either.  Not don't understand cause I have a limited apprehending skill, but don't understand as not interested.  I know plots are not action movie's strongest suit (that's what I said about comedy films- what movie should have plot has strongest suit these days?) but seriously, can a movie has any less plot?  While lacking in plot, the movie tries to make it up by adding unnecessary father/son relationship.  Every time when John McClane and Jr. start bickering about their relationship, I just have goosebumps.  I watch this movie for John McClane being awesome, I don't care about his fuck-up relationship with his son.  Also, the movie pulls a classic victim turns out to be the evil mastermind twist.  Didn't we see this too often already?  You know a plot is bad when they have a twist and no body gives a damn.

The only redeemable part of the movie is the actions, but it can still be a little too much.  Too far-fetched.  My favorite part is when the villain falls off the building a-la Hans Gruber from the first movie, but ending up chop into pieces by the tailspin of the helicopter.  Also when the hot Russian chick tries to end things by crushing the helicopter into the building just to see both Papa and Son McClane jump off the building already.  Shit~ was on her face.

Hey, while I don't like this movie as a Die Hard series, it's still an okay movie if you're willing to view this as just a regular action film.

Score 6/10  

Identity Thief Reviews

Identity Thief seems like a fun movie.  a woman, play by Melissa McCarthy, pretends to be Jason Bateman's character Sandy Bigelow Patterson, uses his identity, and spends tons of money, get into trouble with drug dealers.  Now Sandy has to pay for McCarthy's debt, and he might loses his job because of it.  While all things seem desperate, Sandy decides to bring the woman back to Denver from Florida so she can get persecuted.  Sounds like a perfect formula for a comedy, huh?  Well, I'm sorry to say that you're wrong- Identity Thief is a good idea that was missed completely 

The movie starts off strong.  It introduces problems, funny characters (McCarthy is just awesome), potential threats, and a solutions for our characters.  However, all of these soon died out.  Don't get me wrong though, the whole movie is glued together by McCarthy's wonderful, and hilarious performances.  But without her, the entire movie will easily fall apart.  The movie features characters play by T.I. and Genesis Rodriguez as killer who want to hunt down Diana (McCarthy's character) because she owes money to their boss- which is play by the awesome actor Jonathan Banks of Breaking Bad.  At the same time, she is also being track down by a skiptracer play by Robert Patrick.  While all these threats sound promising, it becomes a disappointment that none of these characters actually bring any threats.  The two killers never meet up with Diana and Sandy, and through out the whole movie Patrick's character only meet up with our main characters maybe once.  Not to mention that Johnathan Banks only appears in the movie two shots- yes, I say shots and not scenes.  I never seen a movie this underused actors.  It really is a shame.

The plot is not believable either.  I know I'm not supposed to fixated on comedy plot, but come on!  The police really can't do anything to help Sandy?  And Sandy's business partner really can't be more understanding about the situation?  That freeway really doesn't have any cars driven by?  With all these ridiculous scenarios, the last straw for me is when Sandy and Diana need money for their trip back to Denver, and Sandy agrees that Diana should rip-off his former boss.  Really?  A person who recently experienced the pain of having their money stolen agrees to steal others' money?  And the ending of the movie where the family visits Diana in prison?  Sure~  The whole time watching the movie I've been guessing how the movie is going to have a happy ending.  Well, I guess THIS is the best way to end the movie huh?  Aunt Diana is just THAT important to the family?

One small part that bugs me the most is when the two killer visits Big Chuck, play by Modern Family's  Eric Stonestreet, and talks about a traditional neighborhood won't let the two killers stay there due to the neighborhood being a "traditional" one  (the killers are black and Latina).  While the racial thing is an important awareness these day, but it's not like the whole movie brings up a lot of racial problems, so to me this comes out of nowhere.

The movie is only good if you are REALLY bored and have extra money to spend for an afternoon.  But if you want quality comedy, you will sure to be disappointed.  Also, I'm sad that the very sexy Genesis Rodriguez doesn't have a bigger role in the film.

Score: 5/10

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Pt. 2

Every since I watched the first Dark Knight Returns movie, I am looking forward to the sequel like a fat kid waiting for his dinner.  And when the dinner finally arrives, it did not disappoint.  Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 is one of the best comic turns animation movie I have ever seen.

The movie continues from where the first movie left off.  It's a few months later and Batman is back on the street with his new Robin- Carrie Kelly.  Now Batman faces problems from different places include the new commissioner wanting to arrest Batman, The Joker coming back to face Batman one last time, and the president asking Superman to take down Batman.  There are a lot of story to tell here, and the film is really compressed.  However, it is not rushed at all.  As a person who read Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns comic beforehand, I feel the movie is a faithful portrayal of the comic, while it retains the fun of watching a film.

The highlight has to be when The Joker starting to make his moves.  The crazy clown prince just want to prove himself one last time, just want to show that Batman can kill.  And he did.  An older Batman can do things he cannot do before.  He learned his lessons the hard way and he is not going to let The Joker no around free again.  Even though Batman still doesn't kill Joker, but he comes really far, the farthest he has ever come before.  This really shows a different color in Batman and I really enjoy it.

Even though I know Frank Miller comes up with the idea first, but after watching The Dark Knight Rises, it just seems redundant when Batman fakes his death at the end.  The movie ends in a high note that has me begging for more.  Well, thank god there's The Dark Knight Strikes Again and let's hope they make it into a film as well.

Oh, and Michael Emerson as The Joker?  That's just creepily awesome!  It's always good to have a little bit of Benjamin Linus.

8.5/10