movie review: hancock

here are my movie reviews of the week!

i watched 2 movies: Hancock, starring Will Smith, and Wanted, starring Angelina Jolie.

Hancock is about a homeless superhero, who lives in Los Angeles. he is a reluctant, irresponsible hero, who meets up with a publicity relations guy, played by Jason Bateman, and sets out to clean up his image and mold him into the superhero that he was meant to be. at first, i wasn't motivated to watch this, BUT i do love superhero movies, and i heard there was a twist to it, and i love twists. unfortunately, i figured out the twist within 20 minutes of the movie. and...kinda fell asleep on the slow parts. i didn't miss much, because i figured out the twist (and you will too), and confirmed it w/ the hubby afterwards. the special effects were cool, there were some parts that were humorous and Smith is believable as a homeless superhero dude. Los Angeles needs a hero like Hancock! Bateman did a great job, too. but i found Charlize Theron, who i really like as an actress, very dry and not believable. she is a supporting actress, but i felt like her role blended in the background, even though her character is very important to the story (she plays Bateman's wife). i don't think this was a huge blockbuster hit, especially knowing that it's going up against the other action films, like The Mummy, Iron Man, The Dark Knight, and Incredible Hulk. so i'm going to have to give this a 3 out of 5 stars.

Wanted, on the other hand, i loved! when i go to an action film, i expect it to be action-packed all the way through. i think the story was interesting, as well, and you could say that it is a sort of superhero/fantasy flick. imagine being able to curve a bullet with your mind, and have the agility, strength, and skill to kick some butt! Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman play special assassins who bring balance to the world by receiving assignments from a "loom" (think greek mythology, with the 3 sisters of fate) that instructs who needs to be killed to achieve this balance. James McAvoy plays the rookie, who receives training from Jolie, Freeman, and other sorted characters. Jolie plays her typical Lara Croft/Mrs. Smith-esque character. no surprises there. Freeman is always stellar. McAvoy was believable as playing the EveryMan/Ordinary Joe, the guy in the cubicle that hates their life and wanting to do/be something else. i liked the action, and there's quite a bit of violence (yeah, assasination and torture...not my mother's movie). but it's so entertaining, i didn't want it to end. 5 out of 5 stars.

my own movie reviews

i just read one of my fave blogs, Monte Kitty, and it inspired me to write my own reviews. i went on a movie binge this weekend.

The Happening: if you're a M.Knight Shamaylan (did i spell that right?) fan, you'll understand where he's going with this. i am fan of his work. my hubby...not so much. which explains why i watched it alone. which is fine, most people (outside of Sixth Sense) usually don't care for his work, mostly because it seems the trailer hypes it up and doesn't live up to it's intensity. And also the fact that his movies always have this "message." so knowing all that, i usually go into the theatre, with an open mind and no expectation. hence, i am able to enjoy the movie. this particular movie, in comparison to all the others, is not my favorite out of his body of work. it was a little reaching, stretching that suspension of disbelief ( i think that's the right saying). without giving it away, the ending was not satisfying in that the source of "the happening" was far fetched. but...like i said, i "get it" and what he was trying to say. if you're a fan, watch it. if you're not, i don't recommend it.

What Happens in Vegas: this was not a first choice at the movies. but ya know what? it was sooooo hot, i had to stay in the theatre. i was desperate. i didn't like the premise of the movie, which is 2 people that meet in vegas, and get married (drunk). they win 3 million dollars on a slot machine and fight over who gets to keep the money. the judge rules that they have to spend 6 months together, as a married couple, in order to get their half of the money, in the hopes they learn something about marriage. i give it 3 out of 5 stars. recommend renting it. it was entertaining, and got my mind (and body) off of the heat.

Don't Mess with the Zohan : again, if you're a Adam Sandler fan, you'll enjoy the movie. it's a typical Sandler comedy, the best parts were in the beginning for sure. if it weren't for being a late show, i would have watched the last fourth of the movie. sorry, i feel asleep, apparently snoring, to the embarrassment to the hubby. anyway, i give it a 4 out of 5 stars. i laughed out loud ! (well, at least the parts that i was awake).

Get Smart : this was my hubby's pick (also the Zohan flick, above). he tried to persuade me with telling me The "Rock" (Dwayne Johnson) was in it. i like Steve Catrell, too. i didn't want to watch it because i loved the t.v. series, as a kid. i didn't want to see a remake of that show. but you know, it was very funny. i really enjoyed it! i stayed up for most of it (i get sleepy after all the previews), and it was non-stop hilarious and action. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

so if you want to get out of the heat, go catch a matinee!! it's a great way to escape from stress for a couple hours, too!!

indiana jones and the crystal skull

i'm a die hard fan of the indiana jones trilogy. i'm not a total geek, in that i can spout every line, but i appreciate the genre. the new movie, the crystal skull, follows along the same style of storytelling of the previous three. steven spielberg was inspired by these chapter movies, growing up, where there was a hero, in dire circumstances, of course, and at the end of each chapter, there was a cliffhanger, leaving the audience wanting more. so i look at this as another chapter in the adventures of indy. also the fact that harrison ford is still hot, after all these years, and he did a great job not making indy look like someone who is on their way to the geriatric ward.

there's the indiana jones clichés, which i think make these movies "classic." i like how the cliché is consistent and constant throughout the series. shows that spielberg has a vision, and sticking to it. i respect that in an artist. not changing your vision to fit status quo or popular culture. there's the classic lines, like, "i have a bad feeling about this," and "i hate snakes!" there's the "natives," the bugs, the treasure hunt, the chase, the romance, the swashbuckling fights (like how is going to get out of this one?), the humor, the heroics and machismo you want in one movie. it might not be as popular as all the other remakes of comic book heroes, and maybe it's all above the new generation, but i think the movie did the genre justice, and stayed true to itself.

and that's my 2 cents.