RED

RED is a real action-comedy! I think every movie incorporates a sense of humor in at least some scenes. However, when it comes to action movies, it's a little hard to do it since it's usually always all about the action. I think RED is unique in this sense cause it perfectly married all the necessary ingredients of an action movie and all the components of a funny comedy flick. It's so flawless that it's actually a funny, but still thrilling movie. It combined it just perfectly. 

RED was a 2010 movie starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Mary-Louise Parker, Karl Urban, Helen Mirren, Brian Cox, Rebecca Pidgeon and Julian McMahon. It was directed Robert Schwentke, while the screenplay was written Jon and Erich Hoeber based on the DC comics RED. It went on to become a box-office success. It was so successful that there will be a sequel which I am already excited about. Too bad that some of the cast, particularly Karl Urban won't be back for RED 2 but I'm glad most of the crew will be on it. 

The main plot of the movie involved the assassination of a man who used to work for the CIA, now tagged as Retired, Extremely Dangerous a.k.a RED. Without a clear reason why he's being assassinated, Frank Moses, played by Willis, contacts his buddies to conduct their own investigation as to why he's become a target. At the same time, William Cooper, played by Urban, had been assigned to finish off Moses. That was basically the plot for the action part of the movie. The constant chasing for Moses by Cooper presented a real action flick. I'd want to point ou tthe scene where Cooper attacks Moses for the first time. If you intend to watch the movie, please watch out for that scene, especially when Moses gets out of the car. That scene was so cool and so awesome! 

The comedy element of the movie was presented right at the beginning when Moses tears up an envelope containing a check just to have an excuse to talk to Sarah, played by Parker. Given their somewhat intimate relationship, despite the fact they've never met, Sarah found herself in danger with only Moses protecting her.  The initial interaction and the subsequent encounters of the two was the whole bulk of the comedic aspect of the movie. That wasn't the only one though especially since John Malkovich stole the scene every single time he was on. Brian Cox also brought the laughs as a loverboy to Helen Mirren's character.Those three sub-plots made the movie painfully hilarious to watch. I would not be the one to complain though as it elevated the entertainment quality of the movie.

I really enjoyed watching this one. Every single component of this film worked, from the story, to the script, to the phenomenal ensemble (special menton to Karl Urban, John Malkovich and Brian Cox who were all just terrific).It's a crazy movie, but it's the good kind of crazy! I was really glad to find out that this movie enjoyed success and that success led to a sequel. Hopefully it wouldn't lose the magic of the first movie.

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Skyfall

Skyfall was my first Bond movie. I've seen clips and parts of other Bond films, but this was the first time I sat through an entire Bond film. It's a good start though since Skyfall broke records for Bond films and is one of the top grossing Bond movies. That's a great start, right? It was also the perfect chance to witness Daniel Craig as 007 after hearing a lot of statements, sometimes contradicting, about his performances. I'd have to watch Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace to make the proper judgment, but as far as I can tell, Daniel Craig was a very believable James Bond.

I'll start this post with the one thing I was a little confused about. Correct me if I'm wrong but I though James Bond would have a lot more special gadgets, techie fun stuff than what they showed. I really didn't mind, I just thought about it. This didn't affect my appreciation of the movie, I was just wondering if they wanted to stick more to the action side of it. I guess I got caught up with all the other spy flicks sporting all the latest toys and hi-tech devices that I started looking for some in this movie.

It would make a lot of sense if they did decide to stick with the action as this movie was filled with intense, heart-wrenching scenes. Just the opening scene, the one on the train, was already too intense. The events that happened next even made it even more obvious that this movie meant business. It was thrilling and exciting to see James Bond's ups and downs, successes and failures. This movie presented a more conflicted James Bond, although this assessment is based on watching one full length Bond film and several minutes of other Bond movies. Maybe that was the goal of the movie, to present this whole persona of James Bond. In my case, it was a brief introduction to the life of the one of the world's best agents. It was full of life, which made it all the more genuine, and all the more inviting.

I guess the whole story line worked for me. It's not a secret that I enjoy watching action flicks and I do like it when the film makes me hold my breath. This one did it for me because aside from the usual fighting, it also played the smart card. It really was a smart movie. I was constantly asking myself different questions from the movie because the whole story was rapidly changing, and it was keeping the excitement for me. It was begging me to ask "What happens next?" and I like that feeling when watching a movie. I take it as a sign that I'm deeply involved in the movie.

I also want to highlight the last segment of the movie which was my favorite part of the entire film. It was ingenious, tricky and enthralling. It was just amazing to watch how it all played out in that few moments. How it was about to end. Those scenes made the movie for me. I appreciated how much thought was put in and the great eye of Sam Mendes in directing that single part of the movie.

Daniel Craig possessed the firm, strong attributes normally associated with Bond. He was capable of handling the role, and I guess his performance in Skyfall should have dismissed any doubts anyone had in his abilities to be James Bond. I've heard and read some people saying that he doesn't fit the bill. I have absolutely no idea what they're talking about because from where I was sitting Daniel Craig was James Bond. He took on the role and gave it dimension, a clear sign that he is a brilliant actor. It also doesn't hurt that he can still pull off some tricks, and still able to kick-ass in his fighting scenes.

Other cast members were just as refreshing to see. Judi Dench was impeccable as the authoritative M. I really admired her work here, and she's actually motivating me to see the other Bond films she was in. She was flawless in portraying the character. Javier Bardem's performance as the movie's main antagonist is also commendable as his portrayal of the twisted sociopath Silva was actually frightening. He was very much into the character, and that reads brilliant in my world. It was also great to see Ralph Fiennes in this movie since I've been a huge supporter. I've enjoyed a lot of his movies and it was great to add another movie to that list. It's also promising to know that he would be part of the Bond franchise now as the new head of MI6. The ladies of the movie also made sure to stand-out. Naomie Harris immediately caught my attention in the movie as the stunning field agent, turned M's secretary. Nonetheless, she maintained her vibrant presence all throughout the movie. Berenice Lim Marlohe also looked the part and made her scenes memorable.

Skyfall was a treat for me. It was a little weird when the opening credits turned into an Adele concert, but after that it was all good. It was exciting and highly entertaining. It was a good welcoming to the Bond community and now I understand the craze about the movie. It really was a fantastic film and I am thankful to the people involved for making such a good film.

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Cheaper by the Dozen

Let it be now known that I absolutely enjoyed watching Cheaper by the Dozen. It was quirky, funny, and chaotic. Sure with 12 kids running around, it'll be impossible for it not to be chaotic; but it was the perfect kind of madness. It brought the laughs and everything I like about comedy films. Sure it's an old movie, but it's a movie I'd still gladly watch over and over again. It's a classic for me but there's just something in the movie that draws me in. In fact, I stayed in a hotel room just to watch the movie when I should have been roaming the city I was in. But you just can't leave when the movie's on.

Cheaper by the Dozen was a 2003 comedy film starring the amazing Steve Martin. But given the title, he wasn't the only star. Here begins the long list of the stars of the movie: Bonnie Hunt, Piper Perabo, Tom Welling, Hilary Duff, Kevin Schmidt, Alyson Stoner, Jacob Smith, Forrest Landis, Liliana Mumy, Morgan York, Blake Woodruff, and Brent and Shane Kinsman. That was the whole Baker family, but the cast also includes Steven Anthony Lawence, Paula Marshall, Alan Ruck, Richard Jenkins and a whole lot more. The movie was directed by Shawn Levy. The film went on to achieve success in the box-office, which led to a sequel; but of that later, and by later I meant another post.

The whole theme of the movie is family, which all of us, in one way or the other, can relate to. This time it's about having a big one and the difficulties, and joys that go along with it. It added an element of deciding whether or not to pursue a career and if it's possible to balance it with a family filled with young children. Steve Martin's Tom Baker was offered his dream job, while Bonnie Hunt's Kate Baker was given the opportunity to finally publish a book. All that and the reality of having 12 kids. Thus began the fun-filled chaotic lives of the Bakers. It presented the pros and cons of having two suddenly career driven parents. All of which led to a fantastic comedy skit.

What I liked most about it was the good-natured comedy it brought to the table. It was clean, most of the time, and it was witty. Steve Martin really led the already amazing ensemble and did a commendable job at it. He's a real leading man in this movie. It also doesn't hurt that he's incredibly funny. Bonnie Hunt was also a perfect fir for Tom's other, and arguably, better half. The duo made a huge part of the movie for me. Another  thing that made me really enjoy the film was how balanced everything was. With that many people in the cast, it's so easy to sideline some of the kids, but that didn't happen. Every Baker kid had their own character to play, had their own story arc, and had sufficient screen time for viewers to take notice of them.

Among the kids, Forrest Landis definitely was a stand-out. Maybe it was because his part of the story was different from the other kids, but he managed to make his scenes count. Unfortunately, according to an article I read, he stopped acting. Maybe we'll see him soon again. Another stand-out was Alyson Stoner, who I didn't even recognize until I saw her name. She looked different, but still had that same charm. Her portrayal of Sarah made me really notice her in the movie. The youngest twins also made the movie fun. Brent and Shane Kinsman helped make this movie appealing and enjoyable. Let's also not forget the grown-ups who were just as awesome as the other kids. Who knew Clark Kent was really a Baker kid?

Cheaper by the Dozen was a good film in my opinion. It's light, fun movie and a perfect feel good movie. The stars made it an anjoyable experience, with the awesome Steve Martin at the lead. I knew critics didn't like it as much, but I'm going to stick to my opinion and say that it's the kind of movie, I'd gladly watch again. Maybe I'm just that easy to please, or maybe the whole gang made me like the movie. Either way, I'm glad I was able to watch it.

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Argo

Argo was definitely one of my most awaited movies for 2012. I thought the story was impressive, especially since it's based on a true story of a historical event. Also, I  knew Ben Affleck would do something spectacular with this story, the same way he was able to create the movie The Town, which was a very good film. I waited for Argo to see if it would be as good as I expected, and it was.

Argo was about how the CIA created a fake movie in order to rescue 6 Americans who escaped the US embassy before Iranian revolutionaries took over the embassy and held all the other Americans hostages. It was a real historical moment after the Iranian people were outraged when the Americans took their former leader in to the United States. It was a form of retaliation and the six Americans got out just in time. However, they weren't safe as the rebels were beginning to figure out what really happened. That's where the CIA came in. With the lives of the six people in even greater danger, they had to make a move to save them. Tony Mendez, played by Ben Affleck, then stepped in and delivered an innovative idea, deemed ridiculous at first.

The first part of the movie was about laying out the facts of the event. There was a compilation of photos and videos depicting the scenario and the setting the movie would be revolving in. It was also used as a transition for the introduction of the characters. These slideshows were intertwined with the scenes of the movie, and that I thought was a brilliant concept as it instantly connects the movie to the actual events. The first scenes were powerful because it locates the people in the story. It depicts how the embassy was taken over.The next part of the movie was all about figuring out how to rescue the hostages. At first it offered comedic moments, much thanks to John Goodman and Alan Arkin. They provided comic relief in a movie that was otherwise filled with tension.

The execution of the movie was nothing less than a spectacle. It was magnificent because Affleck did his best to remain loyal to the subject of the movie. He was able to depict details close to the actual. He tried to make this movie as realistic as possible. I was even more impressed when they started rolling the credits since I realized then that the movie actually took time to perfect how the hostages really looked, how the revolutionaries were, as it was based all on historical evidences like the pictures taken during that time, and the broadcasts of the events. Usually, when people say a movie's based on a true story, very little from the actual story remain. I can say that this wasn't the case in Argo. True, I am not all that familiar with the real story; but basing it from what I saw it was a pretty good depiction and narration. I did read however that Canada did a lot more to help the hostages than what was shown.

However, sticking to the movie, it is undeniable that it was a very well-crafted film. The script was clear and concise, direct to the point, and very compelling. The actors were very well-suited for the characters they were playing, and it was amazing to see how these actors, took on the challenge that went with their roles. Everyone was deserving to be part of this brilliant movie. And like another article said, there was really no single star of the film. Everyone was shining on their own right. Even the characters who had minimal screen time were really making it count.

I've seen all the three movies Ben Affleck directed, and I have been pleased with every single one of them. He may very well be on his way to be the next Clint Eastwood; and judging from this blog, you should know how much I admire Clint Eastwood's work. But it's true, I've appreciated Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and now, Argo. I thought all three were well-directed and Ben Affleck played a major role in making these films happen. I do look forward to seeing his other works.

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Wreck It Ralph

First of all, apologies for going dark. I've been extremely busy, and my work shift just made it impossible to help me get back in my old writing habits. Now that they've put me back in my previous shift, I think I'll be able to keep up with this whole blogging thing more frequently. And since I'm a little less loaded in terms of work, I do think I can do this! Again, I'm apologize for disappearing.

Moving on, this blog post will be about last weekend's box office winner, Wreck It Ralph, a Disney animated film starring the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch. It was directed by Rich Moore, who's also credited for the movie's story along with Phil Johnston and Jim Reardon. Screenplay was written by Jennifer Lee and Phil Johnston. It's on its way to recover from its 15 million budget since it won big last weekend, taking home more than 40 million dollars on its opening weekend. 

I have to say that I went to the theaters without knowing anything about the movie. I just knew that it won the box-office and that was a good enough reason for me to go see it. To be honest, I went to the cinemas hoping I'd still catch Argo, but unfortunately, it was no longer showing. I was a little disappointed since I really wanted to see Argo. I wasn't disappointed at all with Wreck It Ralph though. I guess missing Argo was a blessing in disguise cause it geared me towards watching this awesome animated movie. For starters, it was about arcade games; and as an arcade fan, this movie was right up my alley. It was kind of like Toy Story except instead of toys, it brought to life arcade characters, most notably from Street Fighter.

The plot line was similar to Megamind or Despicable me about a villain wanting to do good. What's different though was Ralph was a villain only in a game. He never succumbed to the idea of him being evil. He was a good hearted person right from the start who had the job of being the game's villain. I thought that was important to point out as at least it had a distinguishing factor. Having said that, Ralph wanted to be a hero, thus pushing him to jump to another game, which then led to him being brought into yet another game. I liked the structure of this to be honest. The games represented the introduction to the rising action to the climax. It was really a superb narration of the movie's story. 

What turned this animated movie into a winner, aside from its awesome ideas, was the graphics it utilized in making this movie. It was bright and vibrant. It was eye friendly and really seemed like the games we play. Each game represented an era of the games, with specific target markets. It was strategic and intelligent to do so. It was inviting to several members of the audience, people who will, for sure, talk about the movie with their friends and family. Bottom line's the movie's smart. Very smart. Going back to the graphics, it had amazing images that was similar to other really great animated movies as well.

It was particularly delightful to witness the actors bring the characters to life. Each and every single one of them provided the quality of entertainment best suited for a movie like Wreck It Ralph. What I wanna know is how Sarah Silverman managed to sound the way she did. It's impressive and hilarious at the same time. But hey, I'm one to just enjoy the show so there's that. Jane Lynch had a commanding voice which really worked perfectly with her character. John C. Reilly's voice acting was also a match with the character Ralph. 

It was an awesome movie, and a good reminder of why I enjoy watching movies, animated movies to be exact. It had a wonderful message, it's family friendly and very well-suited for the kids, and had an amazing imagery. It was vast and commendable. I definitely would recommend it. Although, if Argo's still showing in cinemas near you, I'd suggest go see that first. Don't do what I did, and miss it. It's another incredible film so go see it. Go see bot actually. It will be worth it! 

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