TheQuickWrap:

Here is something new: doing short BT's (bottom lines) and the grade to movies, to get the main point of the review.  The movie will get TIMELESS (for a great, rememberable film), or TONY (YNOT spelled backwards meaning why not go see it; it's harmless), or CRAP (it sucks; just don't bother).  Here we go!

Elf:  This is the best modern Christmas film. Period.  TIMELESS!

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol:  It has been more then 10 years since the original, and it seems as if maintains the same tempo as it, and with the new cars, special effects, and the Dubai Tower, it doesn't get any better than this!  TIMELESS!

Hugo:  This movie surprised me, I went into it not know what it was about, yet came out happy for the characters.  I don't care how creepy the Automoton looks, this is movie-making at its best.  TIMELESS! 

Immortals:  If you like slo-mo panoramic action sequences (300), see it.  If you don't, don't bother.  TONY

Our Idiot Brother:  This movie is heartfelt, funny, and a touch of raunchiness.  Best movie of August 2011.  TONY (no one will remember this, unfortunately)

...for the rest of the wrap-up, Ill be posting a full 2011 edition for the movie that hit theaters in 2011 (that i have seen).

The Darkest Hour (2011)

Hey! 2012 is here and hopefully better movies are on the rise this year.  I want a year of originality! Not sequels of sequels (ParanormalActiv3, HarryPotter8ish, IronMan2, such).  So its time to put the past behind us, NEW REVIEW YEAH!  The Darkest Hour really got me pumped.  I saw a bunch of trailers early on and was excited to see it.  Unfortunately, I am 15 and in High School; I'm not able to go to advance screenings or midnight premieres.  So I resort to going a couple of weeks after the release when i have no homework.  Anyways, The Darkest Hour is probably one of the coolest YouTube videos off all time...If it wasn't a full-length film.  The effects are really cool, the aliens look awesome, but the film goes nowhere.  I would love to see the people go to the alien ships and conquer them from up there.  But no.  The acting was horrific, and the 3-D (which I did not want to pay for), was unnecessary.  I left the theater disappointed and thinking how much I wanted to go see Mission: Impossible 4 again (review to come).

BOTTOM LINE:  The disappointing film goes nowhere, when you think it has potential, you start to wonder what pitched the movie to the executives at the studios.  Thanks for getting me excited for nothing!

D
-jack :D

Review: Tower Heist (2011)

Ben Stiller.  Period.  He is one of few that have a direct line to my sense of humor, along with Jack Black, Will Ferell, and Seth Rogen.  But in Tower Heist, he has showed a side of him I have never seen before.  You feel yourself rooting for Stiller to actually get away with an incredible crime.  Tower Heist succeeds with the important help of Matthew Broderick, oddly sexy Gabourey Sidibe, and don't forget a subtle comeback for Eddie Murphy.  Eddie hasn't made a really good movie that shows off his roots as a funny black comedian that we saw in past movies.   The movie is fresh, fun and harmless.  In a couple of years, no one will remember this movie.  It doesn't excel, and it doesn't sink.  But with a subject like this, I feel it hard to create a timeless film to remember for decades.  Tower Heist is a movie that if you love Stiller and Murphy, you should see.  If you don't really care, see it.  The only problem with this film is the major plot holes at the climax.  They make no sense.  Whatever, I had fun.
Bottom Line:  Regardless of the plot holes,  Tower Heist yields an all-star cast lead by Stiller and makes you root for not-so-good criminals.


B
'Til Next Time,
Jack

Review: Paranormal Activity 3

Ahh, just what the world needs.  Another Paranormal Activity that is not scary, meaningless, and downright lame.  However, this one is actually good.  It is a prequel to the first two and features the demon Katie and her sister Kristi as children.  The flick has many of the old scare tactics like mysterious moving chairs or ghosts closing doors.  But this one differs because it has a beat.  In order to capture the "entities," the main character devises a mechanical arm that swings at the same rate of a fan.  You see the living room one second, the it revolves to the kitchen, very slowly.  It reminds me of the clock in Insidious (review on that to come).  It scares you!  The last 10 minutes of this movie is frightening.  And it somehow links up events seen in the first two films. SPOILER: Like we see a fire being started, and fans of the first two know what that means!
But I really liked this film!  It was scary, fun, and has cool twists unlike the other films.
Bottom Line:  Under new direction, this fresh PA film definitely won't be forgotten.

B
'Til Next Time
Jack

Review: In Time

I saw this movie with buddies on a Saturday night, hoping to see Paranormal Activity 3.  However, guards don't allow teen boys to see R-Rated movies without a parent.  So we went to In Time.  This movie looked pretty interesting, but was basically the same concept.  A guy wants time, another guy gives it to him, now the guy with all the time, he vows to not waste it.  Weird how he goes and buys sports cars, hotel suites, and suits, and he says he won't waste the time.  There is plot holes like that and sometimes, the time just goes too fast.  One minute Justin Timberlake has 1 minute on his life clock, then he gets time from a friend.  Instantly.  And yet so many people die in this movie on the street.  Why don't they just shake a random stranger's hand and get time?  But that is just me.  Overall, this is an average movie that has good acting, but just not enough complexity.  My favorite actor in this was Olivia Wilde, and of course she has to die 30 minutes into the movie.
 Bottom Line:  In Time has the stuff, but just does it in an average way.  Sorry Justin Timberlake.


C+
'Til Next Time
Jack

Review: Planet Terror

Planet Terror, about a bioweapon that causes widespread disease, is a very gory, trilling, and disgusting movie.  It catches the attention of everyone who likes 1.) Action 2.) Horror 3.) Zombies, and 4.) Prosthetic Leg Machine Guns.  Seriously, who comes up with this stuff?!  It starts off well, but then gets out of control.  When the disease is more widespread, it is a gorefest.  Crazy.  Then, as it is entering the climax, it goes crazy with the machine-gun leg, the explosions, body count, ect.  But, in the midst, this is actually a bitter-sweet movie.  It brings out the teenager in you (and I can say that!).  It is pumped with adrenaline and then some.  This movie is going to be an underground cult flick, somewhat like Evil Dead.  Bottom Line:  With the action, the gore, and the direction under Rodriguez, this is definitely the better of the Grindhouse duo.

High B

'Til Next Time

Jack

Review: Death Proof

Many people think "if the movie is made by Quentin Tarantino, then it has to be good."  Unfortunately, that is not the case with Death Proof.  This movie drags, and drags, and drags!  There is very little plot in this movie.  It is about a murderer who "death proofs" his car.  He then prays on women who he eventually kills.  The big climax should have happened at the 1 hour mark.  This movie just never gets you going and feel excited.  I "Netflix'd" this movie and brought it over to a party with some of my friends.  I also now get teased because I brought over the "most boring movie ever."  Good job, Jack.  Bottom Line:  I expected an adrenaline-rush of a movie that Tarantino usually pleases me with, but I got a boring, meaningless movie which I regret spending 2 hours with.


 I am now going to watch the other "Grindhouse" movie Planet Terror.  This better be good...


D
'Til Next Time
Jack