Movie Commentary: Baked Nebraska

During Christmas in Nebraska, I watched a few movies.

Kung Fu Panda

LRK's nephew owned Kung Fu Panda, so one evening we all watched it. That's okay, because I wanted to watch the movie for some time, anyway. I had heard KFP was humorous, featured cool animation and detailed a good story. The movie did not disappoint. I enjoyed Kung Fu Panda and would recommend it for adults and kids... or adults with kids.

Step Brothers

I was apprehensive when LRK initially suggested Step Brothers - skeptical as to how funny I would find the movie. We gave it to Mr. H to watch while we watched Kung Fu Panda and he offered rave reviews and a thumbs up. As in Talledega Nights, Ferrell and C. Reilly work well together. LRK and I watched Step Brothers on the flight back to BWI, and liked it so much that we watched it again Monday night and went through most of the dvd's special features. The humor and language is not for everyone, but Step Brothers is a very funny, quotable movie. [spoiler] Be sure to stick around during the credits when Brennan and Dale take out that gang of kids.

Movie Commentary: Mamma Mia!

C'mon, tough guy, it's a musical based on the songs of ABBA. LRK and her family are big fans and I don't mind the Swedish supergroup.

They use the good songs. We're talking "Super Trooper," "S.O.S.," "The Winner Takes It All" and "Money, Money, Money" (sadly, not The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase's version) and the song that's been in my head for the past week - "Mamma Mia." They also feature ABBA's two best known songs, "Dancing Queen" and "Take a Chance On Me" among others.

"Mamma Mia!" is not without some definitely cheesy parts and overacting. Plus, I found Sophie's fiance to be quite douchey.

The movie setting is beautiful, though, set on some Greek island. And the general tone is fun and includes some genuinely humorous moments... even from a guy's point-of-view. Overall the movie was an enjoyable experience.

+ Not sure what to think of that "Pineapple Express" movie so far, but I'm really liking the use of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" in the trailer.

Geek Alert

Not for nothing, but I can't wait for Hellboy II to arrive in theaters. I really enjoyed the original and from the looks of the trailer, the sequel delivers even more monsters, cool special effects, fight scenes and... monsters.

And so it is noted.

+ Props to Spike TV for the MXC mini-marathon this evening. In my "Wipeout" downgrade post, I alluded to not seeing much MXC on the tube anymore. (Or, I felt like I did). So... good job, Spike TV.

Lazy Bullets aka The Plus Sign

+ That Superbad movie looks pretty funny. Saw the trailer before Knocked Up Saturday night. Lot's of interest-generating actors in the cut - Seth Rogan and Jonah Hill from Knocked Up, Michael Cera from Arrested Development, Bill Heder from SNL Positive buzz.

+ Great read on that Western PA basketball enigma - and favorite topic of yours and Flood's truly - Herb Pope.

+ Mission accomplished?

+ Who knew? One season after being on the KSU K-State bandwagon via Huggs - then jumping off when Huggs bolted for the 'Neers - I may be jumping back on, for reasons that have nothing to do with athletics. Developing...

Movie Commentary: Knocked Up

Saturday evening, I took in Knocked Up at Harrisburg's Regal Cinemas. Going in, I thought the movie would be funny, but I didn't know how "raunchy" it would be. It was the Judd Apatow factor. For example, I didn't think Apatow's The 40-Year Old Virgin was funny. I thought it was pretty crude. But...that could have at least partly been due to the person I saw it with. Maybe I need to see T40YOV again? I didn't totally know what to expect with Knocked Up.

I'm pleased to report that Knocked Up is a great movie. Disclaimer: if your co-movie goer doesn't mind f-bombs and a scene with a woman "crowning". However, the person I saw Knocked Up with reported it was a pretty funny movie and was seen laughing throughout.

Anyway, this is my commentary. All the positive buzz you've read about Knocked Up is accurate. Seth Rogan is very good and funny as Ben, an unemployed stoner-ish slacker. Katherine Heigl is equallly good as Allison, an E! producer who is promoted to E! reporter. It is that promotion she celebrates at a club, where she meets Ben. The two get drunk, go back to her place, and Allison ends up getting knocked up, obvs. Paul Rudd, who I generally like in all movies he appears in, plays Allison's brother-in-law (and fantasy baseball participator). Ben's group of friends is also very funny and entertaining, and there is a good movie-long gag on his one friend's appearance.

Knocked Up is funny and an all-around quality flick. You get laughs consistently through the film, however, everything is not candy, plastic and fairy tale-ish. I think the variety of laughs and the real issues couple to make Knocked Up what it is. KU is the funniest movie I've seen in awhile, and I would see it again (and again). So, props to Knocked Up.

Movie Commentary: Alpha Dog

I actually did watch Alpha Dog first, but I wanted to post it on Monday.

In thinking about my Alpha Dog movie commentary, I was perplexed as to how I wanted to write about a movie that left me so conflicted. I thought the movie was good, well-acted and nicely directed, but at the same time you root for almost every, single character (except for Johnny Truelove) to do the right thing, and in every, single instance they fail to do so.

Click the link for a brief synopsis of Alpha Dog. I found the title misleading, because Truelove and his friends operate in a pack mentality. Truelove is supposed to be the leader or "alpha dog" of the group, but his leadership is flawed and weak. He hides behind his father, tough talk, a gun and a reputation he doesn't seem to warrant. When confronted, he is cowardly and exposed.

Ol' JT did a good job, but his character was pretty much a bad, tatted-up JT. Still, he was believable and you want him to do right. There is a Kids-like aspect to Alpha Dog, in that there is a lot of directionless youths drinking, smoking and partying. but to compare AD to Kids is not fair. Alpha Dog is a much better all-around film.

Movie Commentary: Children of Men

Children of Men is an interesting movie. Set in England in 2027, most of the world has gone in the crapper and a child hasn't been born in over 18 years. Theo (Clive Owen) is a former political activist who is tasked with smuggling a pregnant African 'fugee to the coast to meet up with the Human Project. Not that easy, when both the police and the activist group that initially took you in are after you.

Children of Men is taught and tense. The cinematography of a semi-futuristic, apocalyptic London is pretty neat. The story and plot is interesting. The themes of government, immigration and faith are all relevant. But I liked this movie, I didn't love it. That's not to bash Children of Men, it's a fine movie. It just didn't totally blow me away.

Movie Commentary: Shrek the Third

Yes, I saw Shrek the Third Sunday evening. Wanna fight?

Hit the Ephrata Main for a little green ogre action. I was pleased and entertained by Shrek the Third. But - quite frankly - I probably would have been pleased watching anything, though. Shrek the Third is definitely safe for family faire, but there is a number of adult-targeted humor, too. Basically, Shrek is given the option of becoming king (which he doesn't want - he just wants to go back to his swamp home) or finding the only other heir to the throne, Artie (voiced by ol' JT). Scheming a return to usurp power is the Charming guy. As I said, I enjoyed the film and had a fun time. So props to Shrek the Third.

Movie Commentary: Garden State

Saturday evening I finally got around to watching Garden State. Why - why did I wait so long?

I really like movies where I identify with a character or characters and find pieces of me in them.

I really like movies that feature storylines that I can parallel or relate to my own life.

I really like movies where things happen that I want to have happen in my life.

So, I really liked Garden State.

"Okay, so - so sometimes I lie. I mean, I'm weird, man. About random stuff, too, I don't even know why I do it. It's like - it's like a tick. Sometimes I hear myself say something and then I think, 'Wow, that wasn't even remotely true.'"

"I got a little buzz going...and I like you."

Movie Commentary: Hot Fuzz

Sunday afternoon, I had the pleasure of visiting Penn Cinemas with mistercellaneous and his girl to catch Hot Fuzz. It was my first flick at Penn Cinemas, and while I found the theater acceptable and clean, the no Jujy Fruits or Juju Bees at the concession stand hurt.

Basically, if you liked Shaun of the Dead, you will like Hott Fuzz. The same team wrote and directed, and many of the same actors appear in the film. Notable additions are small parts by Stephen Merchant (co-creator of The Office (UK) and Dwight's character) and the guy from The Office (UK) that played Jim's role. Fuzz details London's rising star cop, Nicholas Angel, who is deemed by his higher ups to be to good to keep around and is transferred to the country. At first, it appears to be a peaceful place where nothing major happens. But slowly Angel uncovers a series of accidents that reveal the town's dark underbelly.

The movie was consistently humorous. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost work wonderfully together. There was some action throughout, but the last 20-30 minutes was simply action-packed. The creative team also reminded the audience that they were the creators of Shaun of the Dead by featuring some gore. I found it all good. I also enjoyed the Fuzz's many references (mostly in jest) to Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, Point Break and many other cop films. The film clocked in at a little under two hours.

Movie Commentary: Hustle & Flow

Wow. Not that I would know anything about being black or a pimp and trying to hustle into the rap game, but Hustle & Flow was real. It delivers that dirty, grinding feel of poverty and struggling to make ends meet. It's hard out there for a pimp.

Terrance Howard does an awesome job playing DJay, a Memphis pimp whose mid-life crisis leads him to pursue a hustle into the rap game. DJay manages a trio of ladies who give him headaches, but also provide his income. Upon trading for a casio keyboard and a chance meeting with an old high school friend, Key (Anthony Anderson), who is now a sound engineer, DJay attempts to change his life and begin writing songs.

I was never a big fan of Howard, but he was really good. Anderson and DJ Qualls (as Shelby) solidly added to the mix, especially Anderson. DJay's ladies, Nola, Shug and Lexus all played key roles. Yes, Ludacris was in it, too, and he wasn't half-bad. I liked what happened to him at the end.

Overall, Hustle & Flow is one of the better serious movies I've seen recently (not as good as The Departed). It is well-acted, carries a interesting story and subplots and is just well done.

Movie Commentary: Slither

In what may be my final premium cable movie, I was able to take in Slither on Cinemax. Slither is a horror movie the way horror should be done: gory, gross, a little scary with a bit of humor added to the mix. Slither opens with a meteor crashing to earth, a dude getting infected with a worm-like alien virus, infecting others and then attempting to eat its way to Earth domination (starting with a small town). The dude from FOX's short lived series Firefly and soon-to-be FOX's short-lived series Drive stars. Co-starring is Elizabeth Banks, who had a cup of coffee on Scrubs as J.D.'s love interest late in season 5. Jenna Fischer (Pam of The Office fame) also has a smaller role in the film (her husband wrote and directed).

The characters were interesting and likeable. The dialogue was fun. The plot flowed. There was some gore and grossness, but it didn't go overboard or anything. Overall, I recommend Slither to anyone who enjoys a good, fun horror flick and can tolerate some gore and a bit of course language. I enjoyed Slither, and am glad I finally got to see it.

Movie Commentary: Domino

Boy, I am going to miss HBO and Cinemax come April 8. Last night, courtesy of one of those channels, I watched Domino. The flick intrigued me when it was in theaters, but I couldn't rationalize dropping the eight large to see it. Domino is the story of Domino Harvey, a kid of priviledge who went on to become a model and then flipped the script and became a bounty hunter. The movie was non-stop action. My one qualm was that the editing could have given a weaker person epilepsy. I really liked the movie, though. It was real, even if movie Domino admits near the end that some of it was real and some fake.

Basically, Domino and her crew get mixed up in the kidnapping of two kids whose father is a Vegas mafia boss. Not good. They go around trying to make it right - by any means necessary - before meeting up with all involved parties at the top of the world in Vegas. The final showdown is very explosive. Like I said, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and plan on watching it again sometime.

Movie Commentary: The Departed

Right off the bat, I don't know why I didn't see The Departed when it was in theaters. The movie is well-acted and the storyline is interesting and taught throught its 2 1/2 hour running time. Set in Boston, it details the cat-and-mouse game between the Boston police and an Irish gang in determining who can out each other's rat-in-the ranks first.

I was going to rattle off superb performances in the film, but really there is no use. All the major actors turned in top-notch work and Scorcese directed a masterpiece. Di Caprio, Sheen, Wahlberg, Nicholson, Baldwin, Damon - all deserve major props.

If you haven't seen this flick, do yourself a favor and rent it. I hope The Departed wins some Oscars tomorrow evening. In my opinion, it certainly deserves any and all accolades it receives. I don't purchase a lot of DVDs, but The Departed is great enough to warrant consideration for my next purchase.

Movie Commentary: Borat

To quote Borat, Borat: CLoAfmBGNoK is "very nice" and worthy of a "high five". The movie is funny, original and Sasha Baron Cohen is genious. If you liked the Borat segments of Da Ali G Show on HBO, you will love the Borat movie.

The film follows Borat's journey from Kazakhstan to New York City to film a documentary. While in NYC, Borat catches a Baywatch rerun and becomes obsessed with meeting Pamela Anderson. He travels from NYC to California filming his adventures and interactions with the people he meets along the way.

I thought Borat was very funny and laughed consistently. I would not, however, rank it above Talladega Nights on the scale of funny. And that's not a slight against Borat - Talladega Nights was just on another level for me.