The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (film)

The Basics: This is a 2013 comedy directed by Don Scardino and written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. Don Scardino’s other directing work most notably consists of the television show ‘30 Rock’. The film began development 2006 under a different title entirely, but didn’t gain production momentum until later in 2011. With a $30 million dollar budget, filming began on January 10^th, 2012 in Nevada and the film was released on March 15^th, 2013.

Plot: The story follows two childhood friends as they grow up to become famous Las Vegas magicians, Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrel) and Anton Marvelton (Steve Buscemi). After the two friends have a falling out, a new and dangerous street magician named Steve Gray (Jim Carrey) begins to occupy the spotlight in the Vegas magic scene. Burt and Anton must reunite to reclaim their fame and perform the ultimate illusion. The storyline follows a widely used pattern by comedy films. It isn’t really anything new, but what were you expecting? The story feels like a family comedy through a lot of the film, but there is dark humor thrown in every now and then to remind you that it is, in fact, an adult comedy. The film also has its fair share of touching moments that keep it grounded. The story is generic, but well fitted to the movie and is perfectly suitable for a comedy.

Acting: I just going to go ahead and say that I love the characters in this movie. Steve Carrel and Jim Carrey are two of my favorite comedic actors. Steve plays one of those characters that is a jerk in the beginning of the movie, then finds himself humbled by a crisis and becomes a good person. He also plays very well with Buscemi, whose character is the underappreciated best friend. Jim Carrey’s eccentric role is hilarious. He will make you laugh almost every time he comes on the screen. Steve Gray is an obvious parody of the real street magician Chriss Angel, and if you know who that is, the jokes will be twice as funny. The cast is great and the acting is solid enough to pull off an occasional (previously mentioned) tender moment.

Effects: The effects for this film are exactly as good as they need to be for a $30 million comedy. Most of the money probably went to the large flashy set-pieces. The most memorable effects though, are Steve Gray’s incredibly disgusting magic tricks. He basically just hurts himself in grotesque ways like drilling a hole in his head or cutting his face open. While these are executed in a comedic manner, they’re still pretty gross and you might turn your head. The gore is a little nasty, but the effects here are totally fine.

Conclusion: The movie is a good one, and it will make you laugh. It has a legendary cast of comic actors, and odd characters. I really enjoyed watching this movie and will probably watch it again soon. I am already quoting it around my friends and it feels like it could definitely become a classic. The best jokes are spread throughout the film so it keeps your attention. The movie did not disappoint.

Buy, Rent, or Pass?

Buy- This is of course, just my opinion. I simply had a good time watching this movie. Like I said, it kind of feels like a classic to me. So, I’ll probably be picking it up. If you just don’t share in this type of humor, the movie might be a bust for you, and that’s okay. However, I will be adding to my collection soon.

Oz the Great and Powerful (film)

The Basics: This is a 2013 Disney action/adventure film directed by Sam Raimi and is an origin story to the 1939 MGM classic “The Wizard of Oz”. Now this movie is more of a spiritual predecessor to “The Wizard of Oz” and it is also not directly based on any one of Frank Baum’s Oz novels. With that in mind it isn’t completely fair to constantly compare it to the 1939 film. However, the creators of this film should have anticipated the comparison of the two films, so I will do so even if only a moderate amount.

Plot: The story here is pretty straightforward and predictable due to it being a prequel to a very widely known movie. That is by no means a bad thing, but there are certain things we know will and won’t happen. Oz is a magician who (very similarly to Dorothy) gets whisked away by a tornado in Kansas to the strange and wonderful world of Oz. He is the prophesized hero of the land and must defeat the wicked witch to claim his throne in the emerald city. We see the origin of the wicked witch we all know so well, as well as several other small things from the original film. While all of this is great, there are some points that bother me. Why on earth are Oz and Glinda (the good witch) romantically involved? I suppose they simply wanted there to be a romantic interest, but this seems completely unnecessary to me. This relationship is in no way alluded to in the original film and is probably just an added plot device for the sake of having it. Also, the wicked witch of the west makes her official transformation by biting an apple that is given to her by her sister (the wicked witch of the east). The apple is never mentioned before or after the scene. The one single corrupting bite from an evil green apple seems cliché and rushed. While the story has minor flaws, it is solid enough to keep a good pace and get everything where it needs to go.

Acting: This film has a great and diverse cast. I very much like James Franco as Oz and he does a good job developing the character. What made this movie for me though, were the supporting characters. Finely the flying monkey (Zach Braff), the China girl (Joey King), and Knuck the fanfare player (Tony Cox) are the most loveable characters of the film. They also seem to be just as, if not more, developed than the main characters. What I don’t like is Mila Kunis. I really like Mila Kunis as an actress, and she was doing great for the first half of the film. Then she became evil and it all went down the drain. Mila is simply not an evil witch. She cannot pull off a sinister character, or any scenes with vividly strong emotions for that matter. When she was crying, it seemed forced; when she was screaming in rage, it sounded stupid and unintimidating. Mila is also much too attractive to be playing a witch that is supposed to be repulsive. Evil witches should not have such nice bodies. It’s just weird and slightly uncomfortable. As a whole the acting is pretty good, and some of the supporting characters go on to be one of the best things about the film.

Effects: The special effects are one of the films strongest points. The landscapes are colorful and vivid. All of the CGI looks vibrant and other-worldly. The only drawback being that we have seen this all before. The environment doesn’t differ much from those in movies like Avatar, Alice in Wonderland, The Chronicles of Narnia, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Neverending Story, etc. This makes all the splendor seem a little less exciting. It is worth noting that in the 1939 film, the flying monkeys seemed more mischievous than threatening. However, in this film they are quite savage and dangerous looking. They were surprisingly scary for a PG movie and definitely were a tad more daunting then their 1939 brothers. The special effects are very good though, and all of the color and liveliness make the film visually pleasing to watch.

Additional Comments: I was disappointed early on in the film by cursing and a sexual joke. This is like a PG Disney movie about Oz, and it caught me off guard. It doesn’t bother me too much, but I had expected a bit better. Also, there are singing munchkins in this film, which was a great relief to me and a huge plus. If I went through this entire film and there were no dancing and singing little people, I would have been very upset.

Conclusion: It isn’t the best written or acted movie ever and it isn’t completely true to its roots.  The movie isn’t totally fresh and you may see traces of several other movies in it. It also has a good amount of oddly attractive witches. Having said all that, it is a fun enough journey with likeable characters and appealing CG.

Buy, Rent, or Pass?

Rent- This movie is on the lower end of rent. It isn’t something you just have to see and it’s a ride you’ve probably gone on before, but it is good. I can appreciate what the people sought to create here and the effort that went into it. If nothing else watch it for the munchkins, hot witches, and pretty colors.

 

The Boondock Saints (film)

The Basics: This is a 1999 movie written and directed by Troy Duffy. It had a limited budget of $6 million, and then it saw a limited release to only five theaters for one week. Under such conditions, it brought in a poor $30,000. However, it made an astonishing $50 million in domestic home video sales and developed a strong cult following. Critics hate this movie, but fans can’t get enough.

Plot: The story follows two Irish brothers as they kill those they deem to be evil. The two first kill a couple of mobsters in self defense, but then have an epiphany that they can make the world a better place by killing evil doers. So they grab their buddy Rocco (David Della Rocco) and proceed to do just that. It isn’t the most thought-provoking or emotional story you’ve ever heard, but it’s pretty sweet. The other half of the story follows detective Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe) as he pieces together the events at the crime scenes and searches for the killers. This part of the storytelling is brilliant. The action scenes are played out only as Smecker figures them out. You see the saints kill the bad guys and the detective interpret the crime scene at the same time, which makes for some pretty awesome sequences. So the story is fair enough, and the delivery is both entertaining and somewhat unique.

Acting: The two saints are played by Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus. They are great characters with a strong sense of justice, great marksmanship, and a bit of wit. You’ll be rooting for them from the very beginning. David’s Rocco’s character is well played, but I’m not quite as fond of him. He yells everything and flips out all the time. It mostly just stresses me out when he’s on screen. The real star of the show is Willem Dafoe. He gives a great performance as a disturbed, homosexual, and absolutely brilliant detective. His character is nuts, but he is a genius and it’s really fun to watch him do his thing. This is a great cast of lesser-known actors, and the characters are a ton of fun.

Effects: With such a wimpy budget, nothing TOO epic or explosive occurs. However, there are plenty of slow motion action scenes. The action sequences are really great because they are violent, epic, slightly dark humored, and visually pleasing all at the same time. Special effects are used appropriately and look good, but aren’t too extreme or plentiful.

Additional Comments: I have to mention that I know the film is rated R, but the use of inappropriate language in this film is rampant. It’s actually kind of incredible the amount of times they drop the f-bomb. Rocco goes on a thirty second burst of just screaming the word over and over when one of the characters remarks, “Well, that certainly illustrates the diversity of the word” which was pretty funny. Anyway, if severe language bothers you, then you may want to wait until this comes on television.

Conclusion: This movie was dropped by big studios, despised by critics, and underfunded; but it is still a great film. The characters are great, the action is great, and it has a massive cult following. The film is simply fun to watch. Despite production trouble and lots of negativity, Troy Duffy has made a name for himself by creating this underdog of a movie.

Buy, Rent, or Pass?

Buy- This is a great movie for a rainy day. It simply a good little movie and is worth your time. It is a ‘Buy’ because it almost just as fun to watch again. Also, this isn’t a pricey movie to pick up. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to spare a few bucks to pick this one up and have it in your collection.

  

Hot Fuzz (film)

The Basics: This film is by the same guys who brought the movie ‘Shaun of the Dead’ into the world, and if you’ve seen that, you know their stuff is going to be good. The film is basically a parody of the classic ‘buddy cop’ format. The movie had a relatively small budget just under $12 million, but grossed a healthy $80 million worldwide.

The Plot: A relatively familiar plot, two incompatible cops get thrown together as partners. The setting is a small town, where mysterious and grisly murders begin to take place. While the story isn’t totally original, it serves its purpose. The real kicker here is the identity of the killer. If you think you know who it is, you don’t. The entire last 30 minutes of the film is what makes it all worth your time. All of the best jokes, twists, and comedic imagery occur inside of the final act. It is also the final act that separates this film from other generic films of its genre. While the setup is slightly recycled, the payoff is unexpected and welcome.

Acting: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are a delightful combination. They proved their merit as a duo once before, and they continue to do so in this film. They have great on-screen chemistry. Simon Pegg plays the hardened city cop, while Nick Frost plays the loveable idiot. It has been done before, but it doesn’t cease to be funny. You will also likely catch glimpses of a few supporting characters played by actors you recognize. The acting isn’t Oscar worthy, but it’s funny and is at an appropriate level.

Effects: Taking into consideration the previously mentioned budget, the effects aren’t half bad. While most of it is spent on gore, there is a fair amount of gunshots and explosions to satisfy your action appetite. There is a fair balance between the use of props and the use of CGI. Nothing glorious here, but it is never struck me as lacking.

Additional Comments: Be on the look-out for abundant references while watching the film. There are plenty of blatant as well as subtle references to other films in the genre. Be sure to check out their other films, as they are also worthwhile.

Conclusion: The movie is funny. While none of the elements are amazing or incredible, it does what it was intended to do. The most notable feature is the film’s unanticipated ending and is well worth the wait. The movie is not bad, but it is also not groundbreaking.

Buy, Rent, or Pass?

Rent- While you’re probably not going to fall in love with this movie, it is certainly worth a watch and would be a shame to pass up. It is also best suited as a ‘Rent’ status because once you know the twist in the plot, I imagine it won’t be nearly as entertaining the second time around.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (film)

The Basics: This is the movie that made pirates look cool. Based on a theme park ride, the movie was an unexpected success. The script was written off of the ride in 2001, then was later re-written and tweaked through 2003. The result being the movie that millions of people have come to love and now consider a classic. This film is directed by Gore Verbinski, who also helmed 'The Ring', 'Rango', and the lesser known 'Mouse Hunt'. With producer Jerry Bruckhiemer and actors like Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, and Kiera Knightley, I'm not sure how the film could have not been a success.

Plot: The plot for this movie had potential for being quite awful, more so than other films because it is based off a stinking ride. What could have been total crap was actually pretty good. You can read some plot summaries here, I'm not going to waste time with it because this is a review, not a synopsis. There is a fair amount of twists and turns that keep it moving and reasonably unpredictable. Although it does rip some pretty generic plot points, most films are going to have to. The film has been criticized for being too long, but I don't mind it in the least. The movie never hit a point where I was disconnected enough from it to wonder how much runtime is left. The screenplay is solid, and the plot is entertaining.

Acting: The acting and the characters are probably the best part about this movie; in fact, it is probably what makes the franchise as a whole successful. Johnny Depp's character (the now infamous Captain Jack Sparrow) is the bread and butter of the whole thing. Can you even hear the word 'pirate' and not think of Captain Jack? The character is totally original and is very developed. You will like Jack Sparrow from his very first moments in the film, in which he walks onto a dock from the crow's nest of a sinking ship. He is funny, witty, and is very likeable. Good job Johnny Depp. Geoffrey, Kiera, and Orlando's characters are almost just as good in their own ways, but aren't quite as skillful. Rush's character is kind of a stereotypical pirate, while Bloom and Knightley occupy the love interest as well as the 'damsel in distress' and the 'rescuer' parts in the story. Conclusively, the acting was great and the characters are very memorable.

Effects: This movie had a huge budget of $140 million. The special effects are awesome. There are lots of cool action/adventure set pieces and locations. The costumes and makeup are all great. The ships they use are real, and are really neat looking. The best special effect, however, is obviously the undead corpses of the cursed pirates. This movie was released in 2003 and you wouldn’t say a thing about how the CGI looks if it were released today. My favorite scene is a sword fighting sequence between Depp and Rush in which the two move in and out of the moon light, which reveals their undead form. The scene is very well done and is one of my favorite parts to watch. Great special effects? Check.

Additional Comments: Not much else to touch on except one thing. Although this is a Disney movie, it might not be great for young children. Sounds wierd to say that, but it's true. This was one of the first (with many to follow) PG-13 rated Disney films. The zombies can be scary and there is blood. There is also mild/moderate sexual innuendo and alcohol consumption.

Conclusion: The movie is fantastic and is loved by many. All the elements of a good film are here and they are well executed. The characters and story are not easily forgotten, and you will likely find yourself wanting to return to this world again soon. Disney upholds its reputation for great movies that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

Buy, rent, or pass?

Buy-This movie is good for lots of re-watches. It is entertaining as child and it is entertaining as an adult. The years do little to diminish this movie’s appeal.