Slumdog Millionaire

I wasn't going to review Slumdog Millionaire, some movies are just so highly publicized that it's a waste of time. But keeping quiet has never been my style.

The Oscar winner for Best Picture, I can't imagine that there is a soul on the planet who hasn't heard of this movie. But for those of you soulless creatures, take a gander...




In a nutshell, the movie follows Jamal and Salim Malik, two brothers that grew up in the slums of Bombay/Mumbai. Jamal is a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" and while breezing through the show he is accused of cheating. It's a concoction of fabulous story telling, gritty slum life, violence, and love. Director Danny Boyle knocked it out of the park with this one.

As I eluded to previously, the Oscar win for Best Picture, combined with 7 other Academy Awards tells the story of the success. And a success it was, however I found it to be a bit overrated. It is a really good film, but I didn't find it to be a GREAT film.

It hit all of the emotional elements, but it just didn't wow me with any particular one of them. I haven't seen a few of the other Best Picture nominees yet, but I can only assume that either none of them were great, or this one just tugged at the right heart strings of the committee members.

The blu-ray transfer is actually quite good. There were a few moments of significant grain, however most of the 1080p was impressive. The blu-ray really stood out with the DTS-HD Master Audio mix. A good soundtrack and more sound effects than I anticipated made it a really nice listen, much more so than I expected from this type of movie.

Oh, and Freida Pinto is a rising star. Incredibly attractive with "the look" that will take her a long way. I expect to see a lot more of her, and I expect her skills to keep increasing.















This is a very good film that is well worth the watch. 4 stars, but I don't think it's a repeater.

I've Loved You So Long

Straight from the land of Champagne, Cognac, foie gras, and maids comes a gem called I've Loved You So Long. An absolutely heart breaking tale of a woman just released from prison and moving into the home of her sister and her family whom she hasn't spoken with since her incarceration.






Kristin Scott Thomas plays Juliette Fontaine in a painfully gripping performance for the ages. It's amazing to me that she didn't get nominated for Best Actress by The Academy. Elsa Zylberstein performs very well as her sister Lea.

I am trying not to gush here but this is a truly fabulous movie. Let me remind you, it is a French film therefore the spoke language is French. The Blu-Ray version offers an English voice over but that is the easy, and annoying, way out. Turn on the subtitles and expand your horizons. Surely you can read for a little while. And the acting is so fabulous that you will feel what they are saying, you won't even need the words.

It isn't for everyone, especially if you are feeling a bit down in the dumps, or if you have a difficult time handling a movie that plays with your emotions. But if you can handle your emotions, and are in the right frame of mind, I challenge you to find a better, more gut wrenching picture out today.

This is a true 4 star drama that will make you laugh, smile, and most of all make you cry. I absolutely dare you not to cry.

Body Of Lies

Body Of Lies is a really nice addition to the spy/thriller genre. Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe team up as CIA operatives in the present day middle east operations unit, stationed in Jordan.





The fact that this movie was filmed with present day events in mind makes it that much more interesting. Too many of the thrillers are futuristic and although they are good fun, this brings just a little bit of believability to the table which only helps things. Remember, I said a little bit of believability. It does stretch itself from time to time.

Leo has come along way since Titanic and each film he does impresses me more. Crowe continues to be one of the leading men at his craft, and he beefed up mightily for this role.






















Look at that chunkster!

A movie produced and directed by Ridley Scott is a recipe for success. He sometimes goes over the top but I have yet to see a film from him that does not entertain. I would see just about anything that he grinds out.

The Blu-Ray copy is very impressive. The desert scenes are spectacular, every grain of sand is evident. The Dolby TrueHD is average at best. The explosions lacked punch and left me wanting more. A few good bullet sizzles and the dialogue was crisp, so it wasn't awful. But with an action flick such as this, you really want to take advantage of the technology and let it rip.

All in all, this was a really good movie that is well worth the watch for anyone that appreciates this type of movie.

4 stars.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Oh where to begin? Vicky Cristina Barcelona is Woody Allen's latest addition to his legendary vault of flicks with hot chicks. Over the last few years he has been quite taken by Scarlett Johansson, who plays the part of Cristina, the whimsical and sexual hippie American tourist. Rebecca Hall is her polar opposite best friend, and you guessed it, the movie takes place in Barcelona!



This is basically a PG foray into the sexual experimentation of young American women that go to Spain for the summer. Woody grabs the cliche that the beautiful woman will go to Europe and find the dashing, romantic, bohemian artist to show them what love and sex are all about. Fair enough, but I have heard this before, I think in Beverly Hills 90210. Didn't Brenda do that? Anyway...

It's a pretty good movie but I would be lying if I didn't say that I was let down. I was expecting an amazing romantic dramedy lead by two of Hollywood's most beautiful actresses.















So hear is how I see it. Rumor has it that Scarlett has been complaining about her beauty. She is "tired of being seen as a sex symbol." News flash...If you did not have your looks, you would be just another pretty face on the street. I am so unimpressed by her work.

Penelope, on the other hand, is the complete package. She is not only beautiful but her skills are crazy good. She stole the show and received an Oscar nom for it. Without her turn this film would be a failure. Thankfully I new she was coming or I may have turned it off.

The film does take a turn for the good when she comes into play and it stays pretty strong. She makes it worth your while.

Javier Bardem also does a commendable job as the leading man, Juan Antonio. If nothing else, he is much better to look at then when he played Anton Chigurh.















The Blu-Ray format is not to be missed. There are some fabulous shots of Barcelona and it makes you feel as if you are on the set. The audio is completely dialogue driven so you won't get any action from your sub or surrounds.

This is a 3 star movie, but could have easily been so much more. Give it a look...

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Hellboy II is an interesting evolution in the franchise. The first installment was special because it had true darkness, humor, and a good feeling of human emotion tied with super hero strength. It drew me in and intrigued me. This one takes it to new levels. Take a look.

Guillermo del Toro is a genius, in my humble opinion. He has put out some true masterpieces. Pan's Labyrinth comes to mind. Pick that one up if you want to be wowed. It doesn't get much better.

Back to the lecture at hand. This one isn't fabulous. It gives into the big Hollywood schmaltz. It feels like it drifts along not knowing what it truly wants to be. A comedy? A super hero flick? A dark look into the underbelly? I really don't know and it troubles me.

Ron Perlman carried the first movie but his talent goes under utilized here. He lost his charm and comedic value. Selma Blair, as Liz Sherman, became too mainstream as well. I don't think tilting towards romance was the right way to go. It lost it's machismo.

Beyond that, this movie is a true visual feast. The Blu-Ray copy is out of this world. Nearly flawless with scenes to die for. The DTS-HD Master Audio is top notch as well. Folks, I tell you time and again that you need to adopt this format. You won't be dissapointed.

If you feel intimidated shoot me a question. I will gladly help you weed through the confusion and put you on the fast track to satisfaction.

As for the movie, it's worth a watch, especially if you liked the first one. It's a 3 star flick, and it's setup for a third installment. Go grab a copy and pop the corn.

Transformers

I totally missed it. I am a big fan of action/sci-fi/fantasy flicks. A big budget flick that pulls it off is even more rewarding because you get those big budget effects. Large booms from your sub, awesome and flawless 1080p Blu-Ray, etc. makes it so enjoyable.






Transformers got it right! I ignored this movie for so long and I paid the price. Now, I have not been a fan of Michael Bay. Most of his movies have been stinkers. Armageddon and Pearl Harbor come to mind as bogus attempts at entertainment. The Island was decent, but would anyone have liked it without Scarlett Johansson running around in tight outfits as Jordan Two Delta? That's a valid question...

I am not one to rehash plot lines. You can do that elsewhere and/or watch the trailer that I embedded for you. What I will do is tell you that this is plain old good fun. You have an ancient battle between robots/transformers that re-erupts on earth. And the aloof Shia LaBeouf doing a fabulous job in selling his starring role. Throw in David Silver's fiance, Foxy Megan, and you have a winning cast.





















































Self serving? Perhaps. But I couldn't help myself. Point made.

Anyway, tons of good action. It is certainly ridiculous, it IS robots for crying out loud. But it knows it's ridiculous. It eats it up. It has its corny moments, its schmaltz, and all that "good" stuff. Grab a copy and enjoy the 140 minutes of fun. And grab that Blu-Ray copy and you have a serious demo disc for your home theater. It's nearly flawless.

4 stars all around. Hopefully this is a turning point for Michael Bay.

Burn After Reading

I am not sure what I just watched. I take it back, I just watched a movie by Joel and Ethan Coen. Burn After Reading is a bit much, even for them.





These two nut jobs have had some real winners. No Country for Old Men being the biggest winner of them all. Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, they all have their place. They may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I haven't found too many people who truly HATE their movies.

I don't hate this one, but it just felt a little bit too much like they were trying to stick it in our faces. It felt like they were saying, hey..we won our Oscar, now take this!

The movie certainly had an A list cast, and they look like they had fun and thus put their hearts into it. It was well acted all around. George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, and Richard Jenkins each outdid each other. McDormand played the lost, aloof character flawlessly. Swinton was fabulous as the bitch. No other way to put it.

This is certainly worth the watch, but I think it will be polarizing. Perhaps you dig the style, or perhaps you find it a bit too much. I would love to hear your thoughts.

The Blu-Ray format shined here. I felt like I was in the room with these folks. In fact, perhaps it was too good. I could see every pore on their face. That's not hot.

The DTS-HD Master Audio was just an average showing. Since it's mostly dialogue driven I wouldn't expect much more.

3 stars.

Traitor

I am beginning to believe that Don Cheadle is one of the most underrated actors of our time.

Traitor is a movie that you think you have seen before, countless times. Another fear mongering terrorist flick that will anger you and pull at your heart strings. Don't buy into it.

This is a very good movie. Don Cheadle is probably one of the few people who could successfully sell snake oil. He makes you believe every word, and he makes you like him even if he's a sleaze.




It's true that this is a movie about terrorism, about deceit, and ultimately about the all too realistic threat of religious fanaticism. It also shows you about the hard work that goes into thwarting such efforts, and all of the pitfalls that surround these events. However it's never heavy handed in it's efforts. It does not weigh you down with over politicizing the movie, or slanting beliefs in one direction. It allows you to be an adult, to think for yourself, and be entertained while thinking just a bit. What a novel concept!

The movie does have a few issues. You can certainly see some of the twists coming. Others will surprise you. It can, at times, fall victim to the "typical" storyline. However when it does, it will quickly pull you out of it. Even so, I never left my seat.

Guy Pearce performed quite admirably. He is an actor who showed great promise in Memento but I haven't seem much of him since then. Very well done, and I hope that I see more of him soon.

Neal McDonough hangs in but I fear that he is one dimensional. He can play a hard headed cop, criminal, or military type but that's about the extent of it.

The Blu-Ray format is very solid. There are some fabulous shots to showcase the technology, and all of the skin tones ring true. You can see the tension in the facial expressions at all times, and that does nothing but help you become immersed in the story.

The Dolby TrueHD is also very well done. There are some serious explosions that will make your sub rock the house! There is nothing like a quick jolt to get the adrenaline pumping.

A full 4 star rating, definitely worth the watch. Pop some corn and enjoy!

The Queen

Every once in a while I ignore a movie. Such was the case for The Queen. I know, this was a critically acclaimed movie. This was nominated for 6 Academy Awards and Helen Mirren won Best Actress for her sixth rendition of the Queen in various films. That's right, she's played that role six times. None as good as this however.

This movie deserved every accolade that it received, and so did Helen Mirren.




The main reason that I steered clear of this film when it debuted in 2006 is that certain stories wear me down. Not because of the story itself but because of the endless media coverage. That is exactly part of their point. But I guess I just assumed that this would be another tear jerker and that I had seen and heard it all.

I was dead wrong. This movie is amazing, not because of the story, but because of the way that it is portrayed. I am amazed at how impartial it was. It did nothing but try to portray the difficulty of the time, how unprecedented the events were, and how everyone struggled in their own way.

As an American, I am constantly beleaguered and confused when it comes to Royalty. Most especially, English Royalty. I don't know that anyone who does not live in, or come from, a Monarchy can truly understand. But this movie gave it meaning, life, and humanization.

Royalty does not owe us that but it was nice to try and understand it for a few moments. This was a fair and impartial story. It was told without prejudice, without feeling, and without a spin. That is truely rare.

If you have not seen it, give it a shot.

My complaint is in the Blu-Ray production. The PCM 5.1 uncompressed audio is fine for what it has, it's a movie that is basically about the dialogue. It's a center channel and move on.

However the picture is severely lacking. My best guess for the grain is that the movie does flip to original footage on more than one occasion. The original footage can't help but to have the grain, and I have to think that if they then flipped to pristine video it would have been distracting.

If that's the case, I understand, however don't bother transfering it to Blu-Ray and and rip the consumer off. Leave it on standard DVD. The consumer has payed enough of a price with the format war and piss poor marketing of the phenomenal product.

I am off my soap box now.

A solid 4 star movie. Pick up a copy.

The Dark Knight

Christopher Nolan is an absolute stud! The Dark Knight is another perfect installment into this franchise. This was a franchise left for dead, on life support, courtesy of Joel Schumacher.

Batman Begins told Schumacher to step aside. The Dark Knight told him to shove it! Yes, it was that good. All that and a bag of chips. Whatever moniker you want to use, go ahead because it rocked.

At 2 1/2 hours you would think it would feel long, overblown. No way!

A friend of mine said that with all the hype, they feared being disappointed. Fear not, there is no way to be disappointed here. And if you are, I wonder what it would take to peak your interest?





After watching that trailer you don't need me to tell you what this is about. All that I can do is reassure each of you three readers that this movie is fabulous. Now I know that action movies don't get Academy love, especially not super hero action movies. But it's a shame because this is that good. It could get more than one nod and it would deserve every bit of it.

Oh, and Heath Ledger, we lost a great one too early. It's too bad. This was a performance of a lifetime. One you can never forget, it will stick with you forever. If ever someone deserved an Oscar, it is Heath. I hope you rest in peace because we movie buffs barely got a taste of your genius.

That's enough from me. Get this film. Blu-Ray is phenomenal and the Dolby TrueHD is flawless. More reference material.

My only, minor complaint? Maggie Gyllenhaal. She does okay, but she just couldn't pull off Rachel Dawes for me. We needed more heat, I mean, it is Batman for crying out loud!

5 stars, in case you couldn't tell.

Wanted

Wanted left me wanting. Wanting more, and wanting less. A movie such as this should be about the action, the sex appeal, and the action.




I think that this movie tried to hard with the character development of James McAvoy's character, Wesley Gibson. He was a really bad whiner, but did a decent job as an angry bad ass. The movie also spent entirely too much time on the development of his "bad ass". It became boorish at times. And I also did not buy into many members of The Fraternity.

Angelina Jolie once again delivers as the sexy bad girl. She does it oh so well and this is no exception. Let it be known that I am not her biggest fan but as far as the bad ass woman goes, she can't be topped.



You know what I'm talking about.

Blu-Ray is the only way to go here as it is the perfect movie to showcase the technology. The action sequences are fabulous. The DTS-HD Master Audio shines. It spins your head with every bullet, every piece of shattered glass makes you look at the floor. Very well done.

This movie is worth a watch. 3 out of 5 stars.

Hancock

Hancock is just another example of what can go wrong in Hollywood.

This is a new installment to the super hero genre that went totally awry. I have no idea what Peter Berg was trying to do with this material. He was all over the map. In 95 minutes, the movie was dark, light, humorous, ridiculous, sappy, and sad.




If he would have kept the material dark, much like it began, he would have had a winner. Will Smith's wise cracking was very funny, and the sexual scene was hilarious. But every time they went in different directions I was left shaking my head.

It's a shame because there were strong performances all around. Will Smith kept this from being a complete waste of time. He has become one of the better actors of his generation. He has proven that he can pull off just about anything. Jason Bateman was very believable but they just didn't develop his character enough for anyone to care about him.

Charlize Theron was so under utilized that it was a sin. This material gave her very little to work with. Her main part developed so late in the game that it couldn't help save the movie. If they would have let her appear in her "business" attire a bit longer they could have at least helped the males of the audience survive.









































She is ridiculously hot. Let's hope she never goes back to Monster. Nobody needs to see this:















I went smaller on the pic to save your souls.

For all you A/V junkies out there, the Blu-Ray slightly above average. The picture was clean but they could have done more with the special effects. The Dolby TrueHD was also just slightly above average. Man, they could have done SO much more with this.

2 out of 5 stars.

Dark City - Director's Cut

Dark City is a movie about a man that awakens in an unfamiliar city, accused of murder. He must immediately decipher what has happened to him, and how to untangle the unbelievable mess called his life.

That, my friends, is all that I am going to give you. I couldn't even begin to give this movie justice with a review. The movie is dark, cerebral, and downright scary all wrapped up into an amazing package. A science-fiction masterpiece!



Almost everything about this movie is perfect. Kiefer Sutherland, Rufus Sewell, William Hurt, and Richard O'Brien turn in near flawless performances. The only weakness, and minor one at that, was Jennifer Connelly. I don't want to bash her because she was as good as I have seen her, but she was just a bit out of her league with this movie and cast.

If you are a fan of the science-fiction genre you will love this movie. I guarantee that you will purchase it after you watch it.

If you aren't a fan of the genre, I bet that you will still be amazed at the quality.

This is a benchmark of the style. Dark City was made in 1998 and it would be a hit if it were just released. There are a few movies that will stand the test of time. This is one of them. Do yourself a favor and get a hold of this movie as soon as possible.

Watch the Director's Cut. You will be rewarded. And by all means, please watch the Blu-Ray edition. The picture is near flawless. The blacks are amazing, and the few bits of color jump out at you and further immerse you into the story. The DTS-HD Master Audio mix is amazing. Crank your system and hang on.

5 out of 5 stars!

War, Inc., 88 Minutes, Vantage Point, Incredible Hulk

War, Inc. - Wow, where to begin. How did they get these actors to sign up for this garbage? This is nothing more than an ultra left wing liberal agenda gone mad.



This is a satire which makes no sense, ends up sloppy, and is so over the top that you just continue to shake your head. Marissa Tomei seemed embarrassed to be a part of this mess. Blu-Ray production is average and the Dolby TrueHD impresses when given the chance. Avoid this at all costs.

1 out of 5 stars.












88 Minutes - Now this is a perfect example of why I started this blog. I am tired of reading reviews from the "experts".

88 Minutes was MURDERED in the reviews. One of the more prominent dudes said "This is the worst movie of 2008 so far".



Let's be perfectly clear. This movie has plot holes galore, it is ridiculous at times, Pacino is too old for the part, his hair is out of control, and it is simply not a believable premise.

HOWEVER, since when did movies have to be believable? Was No Country for Old Men believable? Not in my opinion. Silence of the Lambs. No chance.

This was entertaining. If you wish to be entertained see the movie. I enjoyed it. The Blu-Ray transfer is slightly above average but the audio does little to impress. Oh, and Alicia Witt was smoking hot.

4 out of 5 stars.

Vantage Point - Much like 88 Minutes, this is a movie that will not win any awards.

The premise is quite interesting. There is an assasination attempt on the President of the United States of America while he is in Spain, and the scene is retold through 5 different vantage points.



A very interesting concept. Once again, there are amazing plot holes and the story is simply unbelievable. I would say E.T. was more believable than this. However it is entertaining and will keep you watching. Blu-Ray video is average and the audio is unimpressive.

3 out of 5 stars.












The Incredible Hulk - I went into this expecting an average movie. I was pleasantly surprised and I teetered back and forth on a 4 or 5 star rating. What keeps this at 4 for me is that it could have focused a little more on the cerebral part of the story and cut back on a little bit of the action at the end. Some may disagree on that point which is why Ed Norton and Marvel Comics fought often on this project. It also got a little too cheesy with the dialogue at a few points. Definitely worth seeing!



Oh, and for all of you home theater buffs, this is a definite Blu-Ray demo disc. The colors are amazing without being unnatural, the blacks are deep, and the DTS-HD Master Audio is top notch. It will definitely push your system to the max. Do not miss this one.

4 out of 5 stars.