The movie which began a golden summer movie season is now on DVD.
I have to admit that I am a comic book fan so I had a special excitement and skepticism about "Iron Man." However, after I walked out of the theatre not only were my expectations met and exceeded when it came to the adaptation of the comic, it was also an all-around great movie.
Robert Downey Jr. was back for his first leading role in several years and he knocked it out of the park. He took the role of Tony Stark, billionaire weapons designer, womanizer and alcoholic turned superhero and makes the audience fall in love with him.
Stark starts off as a pompous millionaire who is just fine with the nickname “Merchant of Death,” who gets captured by terrorists who are armed to the teeth with his weapons. After escaping, he discovers his weapons have been given to terrorists by some of his company colleagues and changes his goal in life to protect those who have been hurt by his weapons.
Downey is actually able to make an action movie more about the character than the action in the film. Yes there are amazing action sequences chock-full of CGI, but you almost want them to be over so you can get back to more of Downey’s antics.
His supporting cast of Jeff Bridges, who plays “Obadiah Stane,” the friend turned enemy, does an excellent job of not stealing the scenes he is in, but making his presence loom over the other characters in a subtle kind of terror.
Terrence Howard, who some might say is too good of an actor to be in a summer blockbuster, also does an excellent job of playing his character with just the right amount of playful humor without becoming just comedic relief.
Gwyneth Paltrow also uses her Academy Award winning skills to make a background character someone the audience roots for and cares about. She has just the right amount of sass, cuteness and humor to make her the perfect match for Downey’s character. The chemistry works perfectly and the audience can feel it.
While the biggest complaint I heard about the film was the slow pace in some scenes, I felt the movie has a nice flow to it. There are slower, character-building scenes but those are necessary in any film looking to become a franchise. In an origin movie, you have to have a good amount of plot so the audience cares about what happens to the protagonist —otherwise, you end of not caring if the characters win or lose.
Director Jon Favreau, who past directing credits include “Zathura: A Space Adventure” and “Elf,” knows how to engage audiences and how important characters are in any movie, even a summer blockbuster. However, he also shows he knows how to do action with CGI-packed scenes of fighter jets, tanks and explosions without overdoing it to the point of it becoming boring and taking away from the rest of the film.
This movie is for everyone and is the perfect way to kick off the summer movie season. You don’t have to be a fan of comics to enjoy this film. (However, if you are a fan of the comics, you should make sure to stay for the scene after the credits roll.)
The new DVD includes behind-the-scenes featurettes and commentary from Favreau and most of the cast. The special edition comes with several hours of special features which only a true fan could probably enjoy, but as a true fan, I will be purchasing this edition and watching all of the extras.
Iron Man
Rating: Three and a half stars
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and brief suggestive content
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Eagle Eye Review
There aren't many actors who make me want to see a film just because they are in them, but Shia LaBeouf has already become one of my favorites.
LaBeouf is a good actor and he picks good movies to be a part of, with a few exceptions of course ["Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."] LaBeouf's newest cinematic accomplishment is "Eagle Eye" a cyber-thriller that will make you never want to use technology again.
LaBeouf plays Jerry Shaw, a slacker who plays by his own rules who can never seem to get out of the shadow of his more successful, all-around better twin brother. Shaw has nothing going for him in life and works at a "Copy Cabana" as a "copy associate."
His life quickly changes, however, when he comes home to find his apartment full of guns and bomb-making material. After a strange woman calls him and informs him he is about to be arrested, Shaw is then broken out of captivity by the same woman and teamed up with Rachel Holloman [Michelle Monaghan] whose son is being threatened by the same woman.
Shaw and Holloman are forced to obey the woman's every command or else they and their families will die. The duo find themselves in the midst of high-speed car chases and shootouts with the FBI while following the orders of the woman who can see them wherever they are and can control all things technological.
Billy Bob Thorton, Rosario Dawson and Michael Chiklis make up a strong supporting cast which keeps the film on its feet as opposed to falling flat during the scenes that don't involve the main characters. Normally, it is hard for the audience to enjoy scenes without the main characters or big action sequences, but this group of veteran actors know how to hold their own and involve the audience with every aspect of the story.
The film has a somewhat drawn-out running time of 2 hours, which is normally a bad idea for a thriller. The audience will get so jacked up on action sequences they tire out when it is time for scenes surrounding plot without gunshots or car chases. However, "Eagle Eye" keeps a steady fast-paced atmosphere the entire film. I normally will look to see what time it is if a movie is running too long, but I never had this problem while watching "Eye."
While the film is a thriller and has a fast pace, it is also a thinking movie which engages the audience. This turns off some moviegoers who just want to see action and don't want to have to engage their powers of reasoning or thought during a film. "Eye" doesn't lose itself or the audience in the plot, which can be jumbled at times, and does a great job of explaining itself in the end to allow an enjoyable experience for all.
It can be considered bad when a movie has to explain itself, but for a thriller it is almost necessary. People aren't going to see "Eagle Eye" to think about the world at large and its problems, they are going to be entertained. The movie doesn't have a heavy-handed political agenda, but does a good job to slip just enough in there without grabbing you by the shirt collar and screaming it at you.
The action sequences in the film are phenomenal and even someone who knows nothing about movie-making can rest assured that a lot of money went into the production of the movie. The "all seeing" antagonist made me want to throw away my cell phone after the film. A sure-fire sign of a good film is something which makes you talk after the movie and a good thriller makes you talk and paranoid at the same time. The filmmakers show the audience everything we trust in today's world could turn on us and we would have nowhere to go. It also shows moviegoers a sharp stick is always better than a computer when it comes to weapons manufacturing [Have the Terminator movies taught us nothing?]
LaBeouf is great in all of his roles, but he has a knack for the thriller. His facial expressions and acting skills make him believable as a regular guy thrust into a bad situation. It makes him easier to identify with and root for throughout the film. Monaghan is unimpressive as she has been in her other films ["Made of Honor", "Mission Impossible III], but holds her own. You like LaBeouf enough to like Monaghan because he is with her and you feel obligated.
It is a good film and a great thriller. In a time of mediocre films just before a slew of Oscar-worthy movies, "Eagle Eye" is a great reason to go to the theaters during the month of September.
Eagle Eye
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thorton
Rated PG-13 for violence and language
Rating: 3 stars
LaBeouf is a good actor and he picks good movies to be a part of, with a few exceptions of course ["Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."] LaBeouf's newest cinematic accomplishment is "Eagle Eye" a cyber-thriller that will make you never want to use technology again.
LaBeouf plays Jerry Shaw, a slacker who plays by his own rules who can never seem to get out of the shadow of his more successful, all-around better twin brother. Shaw has nothing going for him in life and works at a "Copy Cabana" as a "copy associate."
His life quickly changes, however, when he comes home to find his apartment full of guns and bomb-making material. After a strange woman calls him and informs him he is about to be arrested, Shaw is then broken out of captivity by the same woman and teamed up with Rachel Holloman [Michelle Monaghan] whose son is being threatened by the same woman.
Shaw and Holloman are forced to obey the woman's every command or else they and their families will die. The duo find themselves in the midst of high-speed car chases and shootouts with the FBI while following the orders of the woman who can see them wherever they are and can control all things technological.
Billy Bob Thorton, Rosario Dawson and Michael Chiklis make up a strong supporting cast which keeps the film on its feet as opposed to falling flat during the scenes that don't involve the main characters. Normally, it is hard for the audience to enjoy scenes without the main characters or big action sequences, but this group of veteran actors know how to hold their own and involve the audience with every aspect of the story.
The film has a somewhat drawn-out running time of 2 hours, which is normally a bad idea for a thriller. The audience will get so jacked up on action sequences they tire out when it is time for scenes surrounding plot without gunshots or car chases. However, "Eagle Eye" keeps a steady fast-paced atmosphere the entire film. I normally will look to see what time it is if a movie is running too long, but I never had this problem while watching "Eye."
While the film is a thriller and has a fast pace, it is also a thinking movie which engages the audience. This turns off some moviegoers who just want to see action and don't want to have to engage their powers of reasoning or thought during a film. "Eye" doesn't lose itself or the audience in the plot, which can be jumbled at times, and does a great job of explaining itself in the end to allow an enjoyable experience for all.
It can be considered bad when a movie has to explain itself, but for a thriller it is almost necessary. People aren't going to see "Eagle Eye" to think about the world at large and its problems, they are going to be entertained. The movie doesn't have a heavy-handed political agenda, but does a good job to slip just enough in there without grabbing you by the shirt collar and screaming it at you.
The action sequences in the film are phenomenal and even someone who knows nothing about movie-making can rest assured that a lot of money went into the production of the movie. The "all seeing" antagonist made me want to throw away my cell phone after the film. A sure-fire sign of a good film is something which makes you talk after the movie and a good thriller makes you talk and paranoid at the same time. The filmmakers show the audience everything we trust in today's world could turn on us and we would have nowhere to go. It also shows moviegoers a sharp stick is always better than a computer when it comes to weapons manufacturing [Have the Terminator movies taught us nothing?]
LaBeouf is great in all of his roles, but he has a knack for the thriller. His facial expressions and acting skills make him believable as a regular guy thrust into a bad situation. It makes him easier to identify with and root for throughout the film. Monaghan is unimpressive as she has been in her other films ["Made of Honor", "Mission Impossible III], but holds her own. You like LaBeouf enough to like Monaghan because he is with her and you feel obligated.
It is a good film and a great thriller. In a time of mediocre films just before a slew of Oscar-worthy movies, "Eagle Eye" is a great reason to go to the theaters during the month of September.
Eagle Eye
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Billy Bob Thorton
Rated PG-13 for violence and language
Rating: 3 stars
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Lakeview Terrace Review
Samuel L. Jackson loves to make movies, and he makes a lot of them. Jackson sometimes lucks out and and takes a good movie like "Lakeview Terrace," his most recent onscreen venture.
In "Terrace," Jackson plays Abel Turner, a single father who is trying to raise his children to be good people while serving the city of Los Angeles as a police officer. However, Turner's world and conservative views are turned upside-down when an interracial couple moves in next door.
Chris Mattson [Patrick Wilson] and his wife Lisa [Kerry Washington] purchase the home next to Jackson and he is none to pleased about what he sees. The couple quickly find themselves to be the victims of what starts as harmless pranks and snide comments from Jackson informing them they are not wanted in his neighborhood. The couple and Jackson find their worlds colliding and soon find it quite literally burning around them.
A symbolic background plot of the film is a raging fires reminiscent of the fires of San Diego in late 2007. As the film begins, the fires are far away, but are still noticeable. However, as tensions rise between the neighbors the fires draw nearer to their homes ending in a fiery climax both literally and figuratively.
The film takes an interesting turn which has not presented itself in many films leading to this point. It is a touchy subject, but the filmmakers charge right into it and shove it in the audiences face. The idea of an interracial couple is not an uncommon idea in today's world, but Jackson's character makes it clear his world is not the same. Throughout the film, Jackson makes racist remarks to Wilson's character and does everything in his power to make his life a living hell. The film tests the audience's ideas about race and challenges moviegoers to take a long, hard look at themselves in the process.
Despite having a heavy-handed political undertone, the film is actually a decent thriller to boot. When the couple realize Jackson's "pranks" are becoming more dangerous and intrusive, they also realize there is nothing that can be done. Lisa's father in the film [Ron Glass] tells the couple there is nothing to be done because "There is the issue of color, and that color happens to be blue."
Because Jackson is a police officer, he comes across as even more terrifying. Not only are the filmmakers showing the audience the one group they can trust can be untrustworthy, they can also make sure you are never safe. At one point Washington threatens to call the police to which Jackson hands her his phone and says, "Go ahead, I will tell you who is on duty."
I have always known Jackson had great "crazy eyes" and he uses them to perfection in this film. His chilling performance is even more scary when he isn't using the "crazy eyes," but a sly smile informing everyone he has nothing to fear.
Wilson and Washington are both great actors, but they don't hold a candle to Jackson in this film. He knows being a tough guy can be intimidating, but being a tough guy who is slick and has nothing to lose is terrifying and he plays the part to perfection. The idea of living next door to his character is enough to make me want to move now, even though I don't even live in the same state.
On the down side, there are moments where his acting is somewhat over-the-top, but this is expected from Jackson. This would have been fine if it hadn't changed some of the more poignant moments in the movie into a scene which is almost comedic.
I knew this film was either going to be great or terrible with little to no in-between area. But, I was wrong. In the end, the film is good, but had the potential to be great. There are a few obvious tweaks the filmmakers could have made to ensure a great film, but as it is, the film just lands in the arena of a good time instead of as a great movie.
Lakeview Terrace
Rated PG-13 for language, violence some sexual content and intense thematic material
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington
Rating: Three stars
In "Terrace," Jackson plays Abel Turner, a single father who is trying to raise his children to be good people while serving the city of Los Angeles as a police officer. However, Turner's world and conservative views are turned upside-down when an interracial couple moves in next door.
Chris Mattson [Patrick Wilson] and his wife Lisa [Kerry Washington] purchase the home next to Jackson and he is none to pleased about what he sees. The couple quickly find themselves to be the victims of what starts as harmless pranks and snide comments from Jackson informing them they are not wanted in his neighborhood. The couple and Jackson find their worlds colliding and soon find it quite literally burning around them.
A symbolic background plot of the film is a raging fires reminiscent of the fires of San Diego in late 2007. As the film begins, the fires are far away, but are still noticeable. However, as tensions rise between the neighbors the fires draw nearer to their homes ending in a fiery climax both literally and figuratively.
The film takes an interesting turn which has not presented itself in many films leading to this point. It is a touchy subject, but the filmmakers charge right into it and shove it in the audiences face. The idea of an interracial couple is not an uncommon idea in today's world, but Jackson's character makes it clear his world is not the same. Throughout the film, Jackson makes racist remarks to Wilson's character and does everything in his power to make his life a living hell. The film tests the audience's ideas about race and challenges moviegoers to take a long, hard look at themselves in the process.
Despite having a heavy-handed political undertone, the film is actually a decent thriller to boot. When the couple realize Jackson's "pranks" are becoming more dangerous and intrusive, they also realize there is nothing that can be done. Lisa's father in the film [Ron Glass] tells the couple there is nothing to be done because "There is the issue of color, and that color happens to be blue."
Because Jackson is a police officer, he comes across as even more terrifying. Not only are the filmmakers showing the audience the one group they can trust can be untrustworthy, they can also make sure you are never safe. At one point Washington threatens to call the police to which Jackson hands her his phone and says, "Go ahead, I will tell you who is on duty."
I have always known Jackson had great "crazy eyes" and he uses them to perfection in this film. His chilling performance is even more scary when he isn't using the "crazy eyes," but a sly smile informing everyone he has nothing to fear.
Wilson and Washington are both great actors, but they don't hold a candle to Jackson in this film. He knows being a tough guy can be intimidating, but being a tough guy who is slick and has nothing to lose is terrifying and he plays the part to perfection. The idea of living next door to his character is enough to make me want to move now, even though I don't even live in the same state.
On the down side, there are moments where his acting is somewhat over-the-top, but this is expected from Jackson. This would have been fine if it hadn't changed some of the more poignant moments in the movie into a scene which is almost comedic.
I knew this film was either going to be great or terrible with little to no in-between area. But, I was wrong. In the end, the film is good, but had the potential to be great. There are a few obvious tweaks the filmmakers could have made to ensure a great film, but as it is, the film just lands in the arena of a good time instead of as a great movie.
Lakeview Terrace
Rated PG-13 for language, violence some sexual content and intense thematic material
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington
Rating: Three stars
Hawaii Fun Time
Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Here is some details about my recent trip to Hawaii.
I have been on several vacations in my life, but I have never been able to fully appreciate them until now.
I recently traveled to the great state of Hawaii with my wife and my in-laws to take a break from the working world and "hang loose." This is my first vacation since joining the working world and I took full advantage of it. I love working at the Burleson Star and especially all of the wonderful people I meet and interact with on a daily basis in the great city of Burleson, but I didn't miss it while I was gone.
I graduated from college in May 2007 and got hitched a month later. After returning home from my honeymoon, I immediately began working at my internship in Wimberley. While interning, I interviewed at the Burleson Star and received a job offer. I left my internship on a Wednesday and began working in Burleson the next day. I say all that to say I haven't had much time off in the past year.
I know this makes me sound young and many of the people reading have been in the working community for many years, but waking up everyday is a new experience for me. Even in college, just because my alarm went off did not mean I was going to get up and go to class [don't worry, I have a much better track record at the Star].
After a year of hard work and many new experiences, I was happy to turn off my brain for a week and enjoy the Hawaii sun. Well, I actually didn't enjoy the sun because I am a smidge overweight and the sun didn't really do anything for me except burn my skin and make me sweat for a week straight. And I didn't even lose any weight!
I thought there was a magical portal people stepped through when they went to Hawaii which made them tan with a defined abdomen. No such luck on my end of the magical portal. When I got to Hawaii and just started sweating. It was nice for me to be in a place where not wearing a shirt was commonplace because I believe this to be my natural state. However, I'm not sure how nice it was for my in-laws.
When I go on vacations I always go with little to no expectations to make my trip enjoyable no matter what and Hawaii was no different. All I wanted to do on the trip was sit on my big Texas booty and play in the ocean.
I succeeded.
If this was all I did, I would have chalked Hawaii up to a great vacation, but I did even more because my wife is persistent. And it was great. Sarah tried to convince me to go snorkeling, but I am not much of a snorkeler. Maybe its because I can never get the mask on right and end up almost drowning in a life jacket in two feet of water or because people always end up pointing at my belly trying to figure out what new kind of whale species has come to the Hawaii shore.
The family did go to a luau, which was a fantastic experience. The food was amazing and several locals were available to tell the history of the island and sell their wares. The entertainment was also exciting, but hula dancing gets somewhat old after about one minute. The mai tai's helped with that.
Sarah and I also went cliff jumping which was a fantastic experience for both of us because Sarah had never done it before and because I got to watch Sarah's face right before and as she jumped off the rock. Priceless.
Swimming in the ocean was also a treat for the whole family. My idea of a good time in the ocean is just letting the waves crash down on me and tumble me to the shore. The other people on the beach who enjoyed this activity ranged in ages from 3 to 5 years old. And Sarah. That is why I love her.
Some of the in-laws decided to boogey board during the week, which I considered until my father-in-law almost broke his nose on a particularly harsh wave. I figured I got Sarah to love me with my face in its current condition and I shouldn't be pushing my luck.
I also took Sarah on a date to the Ritz-Carlton for dinner during the week, which she loved but my wallet hated. I'm not normally a nice restaurant kind of guy and my order usually goes something like, "and can you replace the vegetables with french fries?" Don't worry ladies, I was on my best behavior and ate everything placed in front of me, which my taste-buds were happy with half the time and angry the other half. But Sarah had a great dinner and that was all that mattered.
Now my favorite thing about Hawaii [and this is going to make some people want to shoot me] was the pizza. There was a pizza place across the street from where we were staying which served the best pizza I had ever eaten. I was in Hawaii for eight days and I ate there at least five times. At the end of the week, the owner gave me a free t-shirt and took a picture with me — one of the highlights of the week. I found out the owner was actually from Texas, which made the experience all the better.
My trip taught me an important lesson — even the best things in other states come from Texas. It also taught me as much as it is nice to go on a trip to Hawaii and enjoy a change of scenery for a week, it always feels great to come home. And what better home to come back to then Burleson?
I have been on several vacations in my life, but I have never been able to fully appreciate them until now.
I recently traveled to the great state of Hawaii with my wife and my in-laws to take a break from the working world and "hang loose." This is my first vacation since joining the working world and I took full advantage of it. I love working at the Burleson Star and especially all of the wonderful people I meet and interact with on a daily basis in the great city of Burleson, but I didn't miss it while I was gone.
I graduated from college in May 2007 and got hitched a month later. After returning home from my honeymoon, I immediately began working at my internship in Wimberley. While interning, I interviewed at the Burleson Star and received a job offer. I left my internship on a Wednesday and began working in Burleson the next day. I say all that to say I haven't had much time off in the past year.
I know this makes me sound young and many of the people reading have been in the working community for many years, but waking up everyday is a new experience for me. Even in college, just because my alarm went off did not mean I was going to get up and go to class [don't worry, I have a much better track record at the Star].
After a year of hard work and many new experiences, I was happy to turn off my brain for a week and enjoy the Hawaii sun. Well, I actually didn't enjoy the sun because I am a smidge overweight and the sun didn't really do anything for me except burn my skin and make me sweat for a week straight. And I didn't even lose any weight!
I thought there was a magical portal people stepped through when they went to Hawaii which made them tan with a defined abdomen. No such luck on my end of the magical portal. When I got to Hawaii and just started sweating. It was nice for me to be in a place where not wearing a shirt was commonplace because I believe this to be my natural state. However, I'm not sure how nice it was for my in-laws.
When I go on vacations I always go with little to no expectations to make my trip enjoyable no matter what and Hawaii was no different. All I wanted to do on the trip was sit on my big Texas booty and play in the ocean.
I succeeded.
If this was all I did, I would have chalked Hawaii up to a great vacation, but I did even more because my wife is persistent. And it was great. Sarah tried to convince me to go snorkeling, but I am not much of a snorkeler. Maybe its because I can never get the mask on right and end up almost drowning in a life jacket in two feet of water or because people always end up pointing at my belly trying to figure out what new kind of whale species has come to the Hawaii shore.
The family did go to a luau, which was a fantastic experience. The food was amazing and several locals were available to tell the history of the island and sell their wares. The entertainment was also exciting, but hula dancing gets somewhat old after about one minute. The mai tai's helped with that.
Sarah and I also went cliff jumping which was a fantastic experience for both of us because Sarah had never done it before and because I got to watch Sarah's face right before and as she jumped off the rock. Priceless.
Swimming in the ocean was also a treat for the whole family. My idea of a good time in the ocean is just letting the waves crash down on me and tumble me to the shore. The other people on the beach who enjoyed this activity ranged in ages from 3 to 5 years old. And Sarah. That is why I love her.
Some of the in-laws decided to boogey board during the week, which I considered until my father-in-law almost broke his nose on a particularly harsh wave. I figured I got Sarah to love me with my face in its current condition and I shouldn't be pushing my luck.
I also took Sarah on a date to the Ritz-Carlton for dinner during the week, which she loved but my wallet hated. I'm not normally a nice restaurant kind of guy and my order usually goes something like, "and can you replace the vegetables with french fries?" Don't worry ladies, I was on my best behavior and ate everything placed in front of me, which my taste-buds were happy with half the time and angry the other half. But Sarah had a great dinner and that was all that mattered.
Now my favorite thing about Hawaii [and this is going to make some people want to shoot me] was the pizza. There was a pizza place across the street from where we were staying which served the best pizza I had ever eaten. I was in Hawaii for eight days and I ate there at least five times. At the end of the week, the owner gave me a free t-shirt and took a picture with me — one of the highlights of the week. I found out the owner was actually from Texas, which made the experience all the better.
My trip taught me an important lesson — even the best things in other states come from Texas. It also taught me as much as it is nice to go on a trip to Hawaii and enjoy a change of scenery for a week, it always feels great to come home. And what better home to come back to then Burleson?
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