Michael Clayton

This is possibly one of George Clooney's best film roles.

I have nothing but excellent things to say about this film.

The character development is outstanding. You have an excellent understanding about each characters role in the film before it is over.

Though the film does start off somewhere in the middle, you are not left hanging very long.

I cannot say too much about this film because I feel that if I do I will narrate the film in its entirety for you, thus negating any reason to rent the film.

There is one thing that has to be said about the movie, however. I hate to know how a film is going to end. There is nothing more degrading than watching a movie, than to assume that you are going to be surprised. The director needs to know that you are going to be surprised. This is not the case with Michael Clayton. The movie ends just as you expect it to end and there is nothing but pure satisfaction in that.

Now that your curiosity has been pricked, go enjoy a good film that ends the way you expect it to.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

When I originally created this blog, I set out to critique and review those movies on the library shelves of Hollywood Video and such. It seems to me that somehow back shelf movies have been forgotten, they seem to have been put on the "back shelf" for the newer movies. Different treasures in the movies will never be found again.

Take for instance Terminator 2. Did you know that when the T-1000 takes over the helicopter and begins to chase the Conners and the original Terminator, there is a third arm protruding from his abdomen that steers the helicopter as he reloads his gun? But who cares about that!? The latest CGI will begin to overshadow the remarkable special effects created with less technology.

Any way, I am beginning to stray from the reason for this blog. I started this blog with the back shelf movie in mind. However, after seeing Transformers 2, I felt I needed to post a critique about it.

There was so much hype about the movie's release because of the success of the first installment. Maybe there was too much hype. As I left the theater, I felt a little robbed.

Do not get me wrong, the action was phenomenal, the comedy was at its peek, the actors certainly delivered. Shia LeBeouf delighted audiences once again with his quick witted character, Megan Fox turned heads and John Turturro was again that would be hero. All these actors created characters for us in Transformers that we fell in love with. Nothing about the characters was lost in the making of Transformers 2, in fact each character grew. The growth was so tremendous that new supporting characters needed to be introduced to deepen the psyche of each character.

There was even an introduction of new Transformers, this was both good and bad. The Fallen was a phenomenally complex character. He was a tremendous addition to the cast of Decepticons. Without him the story line, the plot would have proven to be futile and fruitless.

However, on the Autobots side, there were some additions that I did not agree with. Take for instance the RC Twins. I did not think they were a helpful addition to the cast of Autobots, in fact I feel that all they had to offer was filling. Nothing heroic was done by either one. There is also a lot of buzz on the robots as being stereotypes similar to Jar Jar Binks. If you want to read more about this particular issue go to http://content.usatoday.com/topics/Transformers .

Why did I enjoy the addition of the Fallen and not the RC Twins? Because I am kind of nostalgic. I enjoy things staying the same. If you feel you want to make a movie about an old popular cartoon, why deviate from the original. The Fallen was never a part of the original cartoon. (Someone please comment on this blog if you feel that I am wrong). The creators of Transformers created a new chapter; they created a prehistory not bound by the cartoon. The RC Twins seemed to be a part of the Autobots history. I did a little research on the Transformers and found no mention of the RC Twins. In fact the only twins that I remember were Jetfire and Jetstream. If you would like to check out all the Autobots from Generation 1 go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Autobots . The three female motorcycles are mentioned, but nothing of the RC Twins Skids and Mudflap until the end of the list. The only mention in the list is that of their role in the newly released film.

My biggest hang up with the movie is the inception of Transformers that look human. What a rip off. Nowhere in the history of the Transformers have I ever found any hint of a Transformer turning into a human. Did I buy tickets to another Terminator? Did I step into the wrong theater? Was that stupid? No. No. Yes.

This brings me to my last critique of the movie. Why do you need all the sexual references. Why was the little RC truck "humping" Meagan Foxes leg? Why did "Sixbuilder" (the multi-Transformer who destroyed the Pyramid) have to have two dangling testicles-like spheres? I also need to bring up the fact that "Sixbuilder" is listed with the Autobots in Wikipedia. But that was covered with the Decepticon Prime found in the Smithsonian. All robots have a choice as to which side they will fight for. This seemed to be too much of a jump for me.

Over all, the story line was good, the special effects were amazing, the comedy was gut wrenching, the CGI unbeatable.

If I was not so nostalgic and into comic books and cartoons, the movie would have been the most amazing thing that I have seen. However, as I said before at the beginning of this blog, I felt a little robbed. I left the theater a little jaded. I walked into the theater expecting and I left wanting.

My goal for this blog is never to discourage anyone from watching any movie. I simply want to give you the knowledge that I have, insight that I feel may better equip you before you see the movie. Please take what I write with a grain of salt, I merely want to voice my opinion.

The Italian Job

This is a remake. I am not big on remakes. I do not like the idea of an original idea being retold by some schmuck with a lot of money. It is like playing the telephone game, the story changes as it goes down the line. The once perfect rendition of an original thought has now become decimated by a new set of minds.

However, the cast is phenomenal. Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Mos Def, Seth Green and Jason Stathom are a wonderful ensemble. The villain is none other than Edward Norton, who does a tremendous job of making you hate him. He has a chip on his shoulder and an ego to boot.

Norton ends up turning his back on his friends for personal gain. The game is set for revenge. How will the team end up taking down one man that knows all their tricks? You will just have to watch for that information.

The ensemble cast of characters bring s a variety of skills and abilities to the table. Whether it be electronics, explosives or driving, the story unfolds in tiers. One set back brings another victory.

The Italian Job is a great movie to watch with the entire family.

Rumor has it that there is a "Brazilian Job" in the works. Hopefully it is as good as the first.

I Am Legend

This had to be one of the biggest build ups to a movie that I had seen in a long time. So it had to be good, right? Wrong!!

I was sorely disappointed with I Am Legend. Though Will Smith did a phenomenal job in portraying loneliness, I was left with the bitter taste of disgust in my mouth. The villains were unbelievable, the premise was unthinkable. I could go on, but I will not.

For those Will Smith fans (I am one of them) I Am Legend was a let down. The whole movie never spurred a fearful moment. I never felt that the hero of the movie was in danger. He was too perfect of a character. When the movie began, I already knew how it would end. Will Smith died the hero's death; for this kind of movie, it was not the appropriate ending. I felt that the protagonist (Will Smith) needed to see the fruits of his labor.

I know what you are going to say (if you have already seen the movie). Yes, he did know that he had finished his research, yes he did know that he had found the answer. However, becoming a martyr was not the high point of his career. I would not encourage anyone to see this movie.

Mr. Brooks

I feel that this is Kevin Costner at his best. The movie is just so twisted and full of surprises you have no idea where you might end up. Kevin plays the perfect "Dexter". There is some beauty in his performance; he is methodical in his killings and his character (and only his character) brings the movie to its fruition.

William Hurt in solely a figment of Mr. Brooks' mind. I have no problem telling you this because you as the viewer find this out very early in the movie. He is the sadistic (yet very logical) side of Mr. Brooks. You love and hate "Marshall" at the same time.

Dane Cook is a very good addition member to the movie. He appears at just the right time and serves his purpose to the movie wonderfully. He is that little weenie in the movie that takes the focus off the real villain (Mr. Brooks) and brings it on himself. Dane Cook is the perfect recipe for "displacement". In the end, he gets just what he deserves. You'll love it.

In truth, I did not like Demi Moore in this supporting role. For me she is much too strong of an actress to have taken on such a submissive role. Her character is very strong, very independent. however, I feel that not enough focus was place on her. The character build up just isn't there. You do understand who she is and where she comes from, but she seems just like a filler. Any one actress could have filled this role and fulfilled their purpose.

The ending of the movie is the best I have seen in a while. I have sat in too many movies just to be let down at the end. It is one thing to sit through a horrible movie and see a horrible ending. It is very different to sit through a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, leads you into very dark corners, comforts you when you need comfort and then drops you where ever it feels. The film is dynamic. I do not enjoy very many Kevin Costner movies, however, this is a must see.