Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was a 2008 continuation of the hit 1980s franchise. It took nearly two decades to revive the movie and that's exactly what they did. The movie was definitely revived, becoming one of the biggest films in history. I haven't seen any of the older Indiana Jones movies but I've read about them several times. I'm actually surprised it took me this long to watch the movie. Harrison Ford returned to reprise his role, except this time, he had a different buddy, Shia LeBeouf. The film also starred, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt and Jim Broadbent. It was directed by Steven Spielberg, and just with that, you know it must be really good. The screenplay was written by David Koepp and he succeeded in creating a viciously attracting script.
The start of the movie was actually pretty exciting. It had some frightening scenes, some badass fight sequences, and an overall good adventure. the second half of the movie was a lot better than the first half, but the first half was still good. The story was about the search for a crystal skull and the mystery behind it, and the movie stuck to its premise. It had some underlying stories which added layers to the plot. Nothing convoluted though. It was all tied up rather well, especially the connections of the characters. It's been years since the last Indiana Jones movie, so I guess they wanted to refresh details for the olides and introduce them to the younger ones. As another newbie, it was nice to know who the characters are, and the past experiences they had. It was also crazy to find out the weird familial ties within the movie, but I wasn't too surprised as I'd guessed it already. Didn't think I was right though.
It did have some awfully boring parts, but at least they were short moments. Nothing more than 5 minutes. I was thankful for that because most movies have off moments, but at least they made sure to turn things around quick. They kept it exciting as a real adventure film should be. I identified with National Treasures because they were on a quest to discover and locate specific items not normally seen by regular people. I thought they had the same premise, although the approach was a lot different. I still liked both movies though. Indiana Jones had a more Western approach to it, which I thought was one of the marketability of the movies. It made the movie appealing to different types of people.
Harrison Ford still kicks ass even though he's a lot older now. He's still capable of doing action movies, although he did seem a bit slow. But for a guy of his age, he was still impressive. The funny thing is, he did a movie released in 2006 entitled Firewall and he was also busy punching people there. Harrison Ford is already an icon in the movie industry, but more so in the action genre. Cate Blanchett, however, was the biggest surprise here. She was sick, in the best way possible. I've never seen her take on a role of that difficulty I guess. I could only imagine the preparation she did to perfect the role, and the persistence she must have to carry on with the character. Her performance here's probably one of her best performances I've seen. She's a truly versatile actress, and a lovely one as well.
It was a pretty good movie. It was an exciting adventure and the journey they took was one worth taking. It had the thrill of being on a quest, and that's a good sign. Steven Spielberg did great on its direction. If you're a Harrison Ford fan, this movie will make you an even bigger fan, especially since he still delivered the Harrison Ford action vibe we all knew. It was hard-hitting and very impressive. Shia and Cate were also stars and they made the movie modern, but at the same time honest to what the franchise was about. Overall it was a great movie.
You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
August 12, 2012
August 10, 2012
The Bourne Legacy
Avid readers of this site will know that I've been waiting for The Bourne Legacy the moment I knew about it several months ago. I even created a post on why I was excited to see it, watching the stars of the movie being one of them. As a huge Jeremy Renner and Edward Norton fan, this movie had all the right things to make me excited about a movie. Plus it's an action movie, and we also know how much I enjoy these kind of movies.
I can say that it was really worth the wait. But first, let's start with the basics. The movie was directed by Tony Gilroy and was written by Tony Gilroy himself with Dan Gilroy. It starred Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton as the three new faces of the Bourne galaxy. However, aside from these three, the movie also featured familiar faces like Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, and many more. It also featured several new faces who added real excitement to the movie. The whole ensemble itself is one of themain reasns I saw the film, and one of the best reasons why you, whoever's reading this, should watch it.
I liked how they spent the first few minutes of the film establishing the connection of the fourth installment to the first three. I know a lot of people were skeptical about it as they weren't sure about how the movie would preserve its continuity with the first three movies. Because of this, I was glad that the movie spent some time making sure that the movie related to its predecessors. It identified who the new character was in the Bourne Universe, where he was while Jason Bourne was busy trying to evade capture, and what his connection was to the whole secret program being conducted. It linked him to Treadstone, but his story was different from Bourne's. Their stories did have some similarities, being targeted to be killed being the most prominent one.
After Aaron Cross was introduced, I appreciated that the movie focused on him and his story. While Bourne was still mentioned here and there, the movie did not overuse the Bourne name. It was all about Cross now and his struggle to be alive and o keep the woman who could save him alive as well. It was about how he got into the program and how the very same people want him dead. How he's evaded being killed like the others and how a doctor could potentially save him. It was about hs relationships and interactions with other people and it became a Cross movie, and no longer a Bourne movie.
I also enjoyed that the movie offered a variety of scenery. It filmed in different locations and that proved to be an advantage as it gave the movie contrast and it showcased some exotic locations. I'm not only talking about Manila but also Thailand. They also featured several other countries, and it was like a virtual field trip that I greatly enjoyed. I would say however, that I was very pleased with how they maximized these locations. I can't speak for other countries, or other people, but I was pleasantly surprised that the scenes they shot in Manila were great. Probably it's because it had a long chase scene, and again, we all know how much I enjoy those scenes. The bulk of their scenes in Manila was all about the action and the suspense. I even started not caring about the place but about the story and about the fight.
The ending was a bit abrupt, if I'll be completely honest. But at the same time, I liked it because it opened an opportunity for another installment. Now I'm really hoping that this movie will do well more on the box-office side just so the studios will continue the franchise. Also, I read somewhere, although I'm not sure if it's true, that Matt Damon would be open to do a Bourne movie with Renner. That would awesome. I'm calling it now, if that ever happens, that it will be a huge movie!
What I'm trying to say is, there are a lot of reasons to see the movie. Even if you don't have any reason, just go watch it and you'd still have the same feeling as the other people who got excited about it. It was tough, rough and edgy. It was hardcore and the action lived up to its hype. It's an amazing movie and I do hope people see it. The stars of the movie, and the director, made sure that they would give you a quality movie, and that in itself speaks of how great the movie was.
You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
I can say that it was really worth the wait. But first, let's start with the basics. The movie was directed by Tony Gilroy and was written by Tony Gilroy himself with Dan Gilroy. It starred Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton as the three new faces of the Bourne galaxy. However, aside from these three, the movie also featured familiar faces like Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, and many more. It also featured several new faces who added real excitement to the movie. The whole ensemble itself is one of themain reasns I saw the film, and one of the best reasons why you, whoever's reading this, should watch it.
I liked how they spent the first few minutes of the film establishing the connection of the fourth installment to the first three. I know a lot of people were skeptical about it as they weren't sure about how the movie would preserve its continuity with the first three movies. Because of this, I was glad that the movie spent some time making sure that the movie related to its predecessors. It identified who the new character was in the Bourne Universe, where he was while Jason Bourne was busy trying to evade capture, and what his connection was to the whole secret program being conducted. It linked him to Treadstone, but his story was different from Bourne's. Their stories did have some similarities, being targeted to be killed being the most prominent one.
After Aaron Cross was introduced, I appreciated that the movie focused on him and his story. While Bourne was still mentioned here and there, the movie did not overuse the Bourne name. It was all about Cross now and his struggle to be alive and o keep the woman who could save him alive as well. It was about how he got into the program and how the very same people want him dead. How he's evaded being killed like the others and how a doctor could potentially save him. It was about hs relationships and interactions with other people and it became a Cross movie, and no longer a Bourne movie.
I also enjoyed that the movie offered a variety of scenery. It filmed in different locations and that proved to be an advantage as it gave the movie contrast and it showcased some exotic locations. I'm not only talking about Manila but also Thailand. They also featured several other countries, and it was like a virtual field trip that I greatly enjoyed. I would say however, that I was very pleased with how they maximized these locations. I can't speak for other countries, or other people, but I was pleasantly surprised that the scenes they shot in Manila were great. Probably it's because it had a long chase scene, and again, we all know how much I enjoy those scenes. The bulk of their scenes in Manila was all about the action and the suspense. I even started not caring about the place but about the story and about the fight.
The ending was a bit abrupt, if I'll be completely honest. But at the same time, I liked it because it opened an opportunity for another installment. Now I'm really hoping that this movie will do well more on the box-office side just so the studios will continue the franchise. Also, I read somewhere, although I'm not sure if it's true, that Matt Damon would be open to do a Bourne movie with Renner. That would awesome. I'm calling it now, if that ever happens, that it will be a huge movie!
What I'm trying to say is, there are a lot of reasons to see the movie. Even if you don't have any reason, just go watch it and you'd still have the same feeling as the other people who got excited about it. It was tough, rough and edgy. It was hardcore and the action lived up to its hype. It's an amazing movie and I do hope people see it. The stars of the movie, and the director, made sure that they would give you a quality movie, and that in itself speaks of how great the movie was.
You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
August 08, 2012
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Smith was a 2005 action flick starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. It was directed by Doug Liman and was written by Simon Kinberg. To date, this still remains my favorite Angleina Jolie movie, although Wanted's a close second, and also my favorite Brad Pitt movie. This was the move that turned me into a huge fa of the so-called "Brangelina". Also part of the cast were Vince Vaughn, Kerry Washington, Adam Brody, Keith David, Michelle Monaghan, and Jennifer Morrison.The movie became a success in the box-office and let me tell you this, I was genuinely ecstatic that this movie did well.
As you probably know, this movie caused some controversy, one specifically pertaining to the destruction of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's marriage. This was the movie that brought Brad and Angelina together, which basically signaled the end of Brad and Jennifer Aniston. However, while we all know the stories or rumors that surrounded the movie, all of that are beyond the point. Since this is a movie blog, I'll stick with the movie and gear away from the issues and controversies.
I thought the movie was great. The story was a solid one and Simon Kinberg wrote a fantastic screenplay. After all it had to be good since Angelina Jolie took the project. I'm not really certain but from the looks of it, Angelina Jolie is very picky when it comes to the movies she'll do. If the story or the script is not good enough for her, she just won't do it. At least that's what I got from reading things on the internet. But yeah, I thought the story arcs within the basic plot were really thought out. The whole thing was coherent and everything jelled well. The problem of the movie was clear, the relationship of the two was firmly established, the resolution at the end of the movie was crystal clear.
The action sequences, which I thought was a very good selling point of the film, were also all impressive. It looked hot and it looked exciting. Both of them held their positions well. I liked that each encounter was a different one and none of it was boring. It was always passionate and at times, gut-wrenching. It was quite entertaining the fights they had, amusing but still feisty. What I liked even more, since both of them were spies, was how they kept their weapons. Sneaky and smart. I enjoyed finding out just where they put their guns and knives. I like good spy movies, and this was an exceptional one.
It's always amazing to see Angelina Jolie hold a gun cause she's really believable. She emanated that authority and she evoked fear. She's one bad-ass chick, and she knows it well. She's a firm woman when she handles these kinds of roles. I guess that's why she's the perfect choice for such roles. She always delivers and she always goes the extra mile to make sure that the movie will look good. That's how I see her as an actress, one that is truly devoted to what she does. Brad Pitt was also sensational in the movie. He matched the level of Angelina Jolie as he should. He took the character really well and was able to portray it an a genuine manner. Nothing overdone, and everything was balanced. The duo was just phenomenal together. I hope they make another movie. It won't be a sequel for Mr. and Mrs. Smith since they didn't like the story that was presented to them. But maybe another action movie. Hopefully.
The movie was very passionate and exhilarating. It was a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, and a lot of ass-kicking action. It was intense at times, and it was subtle at times. One thing's for sure though. There's never a dull moment in this movie. I can watch it over and over again and I still will have the same amount of enjoyment. Maybe that's just me. But I really liked it. It was hot and sexy!
You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
As you probably know, this movie caused some controversy, one specifically pertaining to the destruction of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's marriage. This was the movie that brought Brad and Angelina together, which basically signaled the end of Brad and Jennifer Aniston. However, while we all know the stories or rumors that surrounded the movie, all of that are beyond the point. Since this is a movie blog, I'll stick with the movie and gear away from the issues and controversies.
I thought the movie was great. The story was a solid one and Simon Kinberg wrote a fantastic screenplay. After all it had to be good since Angelina Jolie took the project. I'm not really certain but from the looks of it, Angelina Jolie is very picky when it comes to the movies she'll do. If the story or the script is not good enough for her, she just won't do it. At least that's what I got from reading things on the internet. But yeah, I thought the story arcs within the basic plot were really thought out. The whole thing was coherent and everything jelled well. The problem of the movie was clear, the relationship of the two was firmly established, the resolution at the end of the movie was crystal clear.
The action sequences, which I thought was a very good selling point of the film, were also all impressive. It looked hot and it looked exciting. Both of them held their positions well. I liked that each encounter was a different one and none of it was boring. It was always passionate and at times, gut-wrenching. It was quite entertaining the fights they had, amusing but still feisty. What I liked even more, since both of them were spies, was how they kept their weapons. Sneaky and smart. I enjoyed finding out just where they put their guns and knives. I like good spy movies, and this was an exceptional one.
It's always amazing to see Angelina Jolie hold a gun cause she's really believable. She emanated that authority and she evoked fear. She's one bad-ass chick, and she knows it well. She's a firm woman when she handles these kinds of roles. I guess that's why she's the perfect choice for such roles. She always delivers and she always goes the extra mile to make sure that the movie will look good. That's how I see her as an actress, one that is truly devoted to what she does. Brad Pitt was also sensational in the movie. He matched the level of Angelina Jolie as he should. He took the character really well and was able to portray it an a genuine manner. Nothing overdone, and everything was balanced. The duo was just phenomenal together. I hope they make another movie. It won't be a sequel for Mr. and Mrs. Smith since they didn't like the story that was presented to them. But maybe another action movie. Hopefully.
The movie was very passionate and exhilarating. It was a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, and a lot of ass-kicking action. It was intense at times, and it was subtle at times. One thing's for sure though. There's never a dull moment in this movie. I can watch it over and over again and I still will have the same amount of enjoyment. Maybe that's just me. But I really liked it. It was hot and sexy!
You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
The Million Pound Note
The Million Pnd note was a 1954 British comedy movie starring Gregory Peck, probably most known for his role as Atticus in the film version of To Kill A Mockingbird ( http://mrfilmreviewer.blogspot.com/2012/08/to-kill-mockingbird.html ). It was directed by Ronald Neame and was written by Mark Twain and Jill Craigie based on Twain's short story. Also part of the cast were Ronald Squire, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Jane Griffiths, Joyce Grenfell, A.E. Matthews, and many other fantastic actors.
The plot of the story was actually amusing. It revolved around a million pound bank note, as the title suggested. Two brothers wanted to create a million pound note in order to undergo a certain bet. One believed that with a million pound note, a man would never have to spend for anything and still live comfortably, while the other one believed that the need to actually spend the money would still arise. The way they chose to settle it was through giving the note to a normal, poor man. The man, pkayed by Gregor Peck, then found himself in the middle of every social gathering, getting free food, clothes, and hotel accommodations. Everything was being handed to him, proving the hypothesis of the first brother; although by the end of the movie, it's very apparent that he wasn't entirely correct.
Probably because it was an old movie that it's not the comedy I'm familiar with. It's not like Step Brothers or Date Night or any other hysterical comedy movie that forced you to laugh out loud. Gregory Peck was not Will Ferrell or Steve Carrel. However, it was still quite amusing and very engaging. Maybe it was more of a slap stick comedy in parts, but I guess it was more of the whole situation was funny. Hell I;d laugh my ass off if people started giving things for free the moment I could afford to buy them. It's the irony that made this movie comedic, and probably a few particular scenes as well.
It was nice to see Gregory Peck on a lighter mood especially since the magnitude of his role as Atticus was really intense and somber. It was nice to see a smiling, relaxed Gregory Peck for a change. He also proved his versatility and the reason why he warranted the #12 spot of the greatest actors of all time. I personally think he should rank higher but 12 isn't a bad spot to begin with. He's a perfect choice for a lead role because his versatility could make things happen for him. The rest of the cast complemented his acting performance, and it was a sight to see how these different characters played along with each other.
I liked the movie. It was a short one but I was still able to greatly enjoy it. Maybe not a lot of people would enjoy it because it's an older movie, and not a lot of people nowadays enjoy watching old school movies. But you should. A lot of the greatest films ever made were made in the early parts of the film industry. You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
The plot of the story was actually amusing. It revolved around a million pound bank note, as the title suggested. Two brothers wanted to create a million pound note in order to undergo a certain bet. One believed that with a million pound note, a man would never have to spend for anything and still live comfortably, while the other one believed that the need to actually spend the money would still arise. The way they chose to settle it was through giving the note to a normal, poor man. The man, pkayed by Gregor Peck, then found himself in the middle of every social gathering, getting free food, clothes, and hotel accommodations. Everything was being handed to him, proving the hypothesis of the first brother; although by the end of the movie, it's very apparent that he wasn't entirely correct.
Probably because it was an old movie that it's not the comedy I'm familiar with. It's not like Step Brothers or Date Night or any other hysterical comedy movie that forced you to laugh out loud. Gregory Peck was not Will Ferrell or Steve Carrel. However, it was still quite amusing and very engaging. Maybe it was more of a slap stick comedy in parts, but I guess it was more of the whole situation was funny. Hell I;d laugh my ass off if people started giving things for free the moment I could afford to buy them. It's the irony that made this movie comedic, and probably a few particular scenes as well.
It was nice to see Gregory Peck on a lighter mood especially since the magnitude of his role as Atticus was really intense and somber. It was nice to see a smiling, relaxed Gregory Peck for a change. He also proved his versatility and the reason why he warranted the #12 spot of the greatest actors of all time. I personally think he should rank higher but 12 isn't a bad spot to begin with. He's a perfect choice for a lead role because his versatility could make things happen for him. The rest of the cast complemented his acting performance, and it was a sight to see how these different characters played along with each other.
I liked the movie. It was a short one but I was still able to greatly enjoy it. Maybe not a lot of people would enjoy it because it's an older movie, and not a lot of people nowadays enjoy watching old school movies. But you should. A lot of the greatest films ever made were made in the early parts of the film industry. You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
August 07, 2012
August Rush
I was never aware that such a movie was made. In fact out of all the cast, I only recognized three of them, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Alex O'Loughlin and William Sadler. Since I don't think it's a very popular movie, allow me to introduce it to you. August Rush was a 2007 drama movie that starred Freddie Higmhore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard, William Sadler, Alex O'Loughlin, Jamia Simone Nash and Leon G. Thomas. It was directed by Kirsten Sheridan and was written by Nick Castle, James V. Hart and Paul Castro. Although not at all familiar, it seems like the movie did modestly in the box-office so maybe it's a popular one and I just didn't know about it until now.
It was really a dramatic movie. It was about two musicians, their love story (or the lack thereof), the child that they never knew, and the bond that would eventually bring them together. The mood throughout the entire movie was that of a melancholic one. It was all about sadness, isolation, longing and suffering. However, at the same time, it was also about hope, chances, and positivity. I actually liked how the story unfolded. It wasn't as realistic as some people would want it to be, but there was a certain mystery and fantasy like element that made it "charming". I personally thought the story was a good one, and that the execution of it was spectacular.
What I loved about this movie was hat it was a giant celebration of music. It had wonderful melodies, beautiful songs and an excellent orchestra to back things up. It used different types of musical instruments like guitars, pianos, violins, cellos, flutes, and many more. It was a musical extravaganza and I liked every sound I heard. It featured classical music which I'm not really a big fan of. But because they added their own twist in it, modernizing the classics, it really appealed to me. The beats and rhythm they created using normal instruments were really worth taking note of.
It was a little surprising to see the cast in a musical element. I didn't know Jonathan Rhys Meyers could sing, and even Alex O'loughlin. I'm actually not sure if the actors were actually playing the instruments, but if they are, there's a whole lot more of respect that must be given to them. It was like a big jam session in a classical school. It actually could have been a school themed musical movie, and I probably would still enjoy it. The music featured just greatly appealed to me. It was also a nice introduction to Freddie Highmore, who apparently is already a big star having done multiple movies. The kid's really good and very believable. He had this innocence and fire that fit the character perfectly. It was also nice to be introduced to Keri Russell. I don't think I've seen any of her other works so this was a good starting point of getting to know her.
I read a comment that said that it's not a movie for everyone. While I understood the sentiment, probably because of the gravity of intense melancholy revolving around the movie, I still thought "Why not?" People always say that music is universal, and this movie had lots of music, and very good ones at that. I truly believe that it's a movie that people will appreciate, even if they don't entirely enjoy it. I just don't think it's possible to fully hate on this movie. I think people are bound to like at least parts of it at least. I even think that the music featured in this movie has the capacity to entice the viewers and make them feel the movie a little more.
You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
It was really a dramatic movie. It was about two musicians, their love story (or the lack thereof), the child that they never knew, and the bond that would eventually bring them together. The mood throughout the entire movie was that of a melancholic one. It was all about sadness, isolation, longing and suffering. However, at the same time, it was also about hope, chances, and positivity. I actually liked how the story unfolded. It wasn't as realistic as some people would want it to be, but there was a certain mystery and fantasy like element that made it "charming". I personally thought the story was a good one, and that the execution of it was spectacular.
What I loved about this movie was hat it was a giant celebration of music. It had wonderful melodies, beautiful songs and an excellent orchestra to back things up. It used different types of musical instruments like guitars, pianos, violins, cellos, flutes, and many more. It was a musical extravaganza and I liked every sound I heard. It featured classical music which I'm not really a big fan of. But because they added their own twist in it, modernizing the classics, it really appealed to me. The beats and rhythm they created using normal instruments were really worth taking note of.
It was a little surprising to see the cast in a musical element. I didn't know Jonathan Rhys Meyers could sing, and even Alex O'loughlin. I'm actually not sure if the actors were actually playing the instruments, but if they are, there's a whole lot more of respect that must be given to them. It was like a big jam session in a classical school. It actually could have been a school themed musical movie, and I probably would still enjoy it. The music featured just greatly appealed to me. It was also a nice introduction to Freddie Highmore, who apparently is already a big star having done multiple movies. The kid's really good and very believable. He had this innocence and fire that fit the character perfectly. It was also nice to be introduced to Keri Russell. I don't think I've seen any of her other works so this was a good starting point of getting to know her.
I read a comment that said that it's not a movie for everyone. While I understood the sentiment, probably because of the gravity of intense melancholy revolving around the movie, I still thought "Why not?" People always say that music is universal, and this movie had lots of music, and very good ones at that. I truly believe that it's a movie that people will appreciate, even if they don't entirely enjoy it. I just don't think it's possible to fully hate on this movie. I think people are bound to like at least parts of it at least. I even think that the music featured in this movie has the capacity to entice the viewers and make them feel the movie a little more.
You can follow me on twitter @sirfilmreviewer or email me at mrfilmreviewer@yahoo.com. You can also follow this blog by checking the right side of the page.
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