I decided that if I wanted to see Gravity, which I did, that it was probably worth going to see it in IMAX 3D to get the full effect and therefore that is what I have done. going into the movie I was hoping for a lot, A) because it stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney who are both good actors, B) I have heard a lot of about the effort that went into the special effects and zero gravity simulations, and C) I tend to like destroys in space movies. Although this movie is not the best of the year, it was very good and I was kept interested throughout the entire film.
Gravity is set around Dr. Ryan Stone, played by Sandra Bullock, who is on her first space excursion because she is there doing updates on the Hubble Telescope, she is uneasy in space but is being led through this experience by veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski, there are a few other voices in the movie (i.e. Houston control) but the movies is basically these two with the focus on Bullock. While they are outside the space shuttle doing an update on the telescope they are hit by flying shrapnel from a Russian satellite that was destroyed because it was defunct. This destroys the space shuttle, sends Dr. Stone drifting and separates her from Kowalski. Stone has to try and survive this ordeal, while trying to be kept calm by Kowalski, dealing with her own internal demons and trying to get back to Terra Firma. While this is all happening there are lots of space scapes, views of Earth from space, and zero gravity effects.
I will start with Sandra Bullock, who was basically the focus on the entire movie and its main star (you could consider the views and space as the co-star) and she did a wonderful job in this movie. I think that she is a fantastic actress and it can be very difficulty to carry a whole movie by oneself and I think she does a great job. There are even moments where she connects with the audience even when it is just her voice doing the work in the scene. She got me to care about her, feel some of her emotions (more as the movie went on, in the beginning not so much as the peril starts early on and I hadn't really been drawn in at this point yet), and hope that she is able to pull it off and survive.
The special effects in this movie were pretty good and you can see all the time and effort that went into everything, at times it does have that computer generated edge to it but overall it was very good. It was the zero gravity effects (water droplets/ items floating) and internal space station shots that seemed the most obvious to me). At times the zero gravity and how things moved seemed a bit off but that may have been more me then anything. I have it in my head how people should move in zero gravity (this goes back to my days of wanting to be an astronaut, going to space camp, and seeing actual film of people in space) and at to me it seemed like she was always too much centered in things and at times she seemed anchored but didn't have a hand or foot on anything, but this wasn't rally that big of a deal.
I enjoyed this movie and it kept me interested throughout the who thing. There was a moment where I was irritated, and though come on that would never happen, but they were able to bring it back to okay for me, at times I would get ahead of what she should be trying and would go come on move a bit faster you are in survival mode, but overall it was fair paced. Like I mentioned earlier this was basically because of Sandra Bullock and her acting ability.
I went and saw this movie in 3D and I think that if you are going to see this movie it is worth the extra few dollars. With the 3D you are able to see the dimensions of things, the depth into space and have the zero gravity floating objects actually seem like they are float around.
My Rating: 3-
Movie Reviews for the Movie Lover!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Baggage Claim (2013): Review
This time of year or me has been and always will be the time of year I like to watch the b-level romantic comedies. To me it always seems like August/September is the time of year where the production movies dump their not top shelf movies, specifically those romantic comedies that are not designed for February. I know that it is now the beginning of October but it seemed like the rom-coms were not really represented this year so I was ready to see one when it was released and right now that meant Baggage Claim, this movie followed the standard female lead rom-com about a girl who gets herself in situations where she is trying to find the one and in doing so discovers herself and ends up with the right man for her, who originally wasn't on her radar.
Baggage Claim stars Paula Patton as Montana, a stewardess who was raised by a mother who was obsessed with marriages and who has had five of her own. As Montana approaches her thirtieth birthday her younger sister gets engaged and thus throws her into a frenzy to get in a serious relationship before the rehearsal dinner. Also feeding this fire is her discovery that the man she thought was for her turns out to be untrustworthy. This story follows a premises that has happened before, where Montana is looking for Mr. Wright by going back and considering her exes. Because Montana is a stewardess, she does this by enlisting her friends at the airline to discover when her exes are flying and gets on flights with them.
I really liked the interactions that Montana had with her two best friends and fellow flight attendants slutty Gail, played by Jill Scott, and gay guy who instigates the plan Sam, played by Adam Brody. I liked how the three of them played off each other and I especially liked Adam Brody, but I always seem to like him an actor and he has this natural humor that I enjoy and that always seems to be a bright spot in the movies he is in. There are a slew of male actors who play her exes and some of them are well know (Taye Diggs, Djimon Hounsou) and then her best friend from childhood William Wright, played by Derek Luke.
There is nothing shocking in this movie and very much follows the standard rom-com script but I did enjoy the time I watched it. Paula Patton over acted quite a bit and did this fake coyness thing that was a bit annoying, but maybe it is because I am used to seeing her in roles where she is more of a confidant, kick ass women and now she is more of slightly pathetic female lead in this movie. Basically it was fun to watch but is only for people that like the very classic, very predictable, romantic comedy.
My Rating: 2-
Baggage Claim stars Paula Patton as Montana, a stewardess who was raised by a mother who was obsessed with marriages and who has had five of her own. As Montana approaches her thirtieth birthday her younger sister gets engaged and thus throws her into a frenzy to get in a serious relationship before the rehearsal dinner. Also feeding this fire is her discovery that the man she thought was for her turns out to be untrustworthy. This story follows a premises that has happened before, where Montana is looking for Mr. Wright by going back and considering her exes. Because Montana is a stewardess, she does this by enlisting her friends at the airline to discover when her exes are flying and gets on flights with them.
I really liked the interactions that Montana had with her two best friends and fellow flight attendants slutty Gail, played by Jill Scott, and gay guy who instigates the plan Sam, played by Adam Brody. I liked how the three of them played off each other and I especially liked Adam Brody, but I always seem to like him an actor and he has this natural humor that I enjoy and that always seems to be a bright spot in the movies he is in. There are a slew of male actors who play her exes and some of them are well know (Taye Diggs, Djimon Hounsou) and then her best friend from childhood William Wright, played by Derek Luke.
There is nothing shocking in this movie and very much follows the standard rom-com script but I did enjoy the time I watched it. Paula Patton over acted quite a bit and did this fake coyness thing that was a bit annoying, but maybe it is because I am used to seeing her in roles where she is more of a confidant, kick ass women and now she is more of slightly pathetic female lead in this movie. Basically it was fun to watch but is only for people that like the very classic, very predictable, romantic comedy.
My Rating: 2-
Friday, October 4, 2013
Ender's Game (2003) Destroy TV Spot
Recently a new television spot for Ender's Game was released.
Watch below:
Basically I am just really, really excited for this movie and don't want to wait another month until it comes out but in the interim, I can watch the new television spots. This one shows more about Ender and the battle scenes. Is anyone else getting more and more excited for this movie?
Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 (2013): Review
Today I went and saw Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, and I was looking forward to seeing it. This movie was one of the examples of the trailers and television spots peaking my interest enough for me to go and see the movie. I liked the concept of the movie based on these teasers and it looked like it would be fun. Before I went and saw today I watched the original so that I would know what was going on before it started and not do what I have done recently with some of the animated sequels where I watched the second before the first and it was a bit confusing. I do not think that it was really necessary to see the first one before hand as this movie opens by summarizing the first movie. For my review of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatball (2009) click here http://myreviewsbyjane.blogspot.com/2013/09/cloudy-with-chance-of-meatballs-2009.html
I quite liked this movie and thought that it was a fun time, there was nothing really amazing about but it was fun and I would watch it again should the opportunity present itself. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 brings back all of the main original characters from the first one but follows their story after they leaved Swallow Falls due to all of the giant food being everywhere. Flint Lockwood, voiced by Bill Hader, is offered a job working at a invention company run by his childhood scientist hero. After working there for six months and having his hopes dashed he is tricked by this hero Chester V, voiced by, Will Forte, and his talking ape sidekick Barb, voiced by Kristin Schall, Flint goes back to his island because he has been told that the food has gained consciousness and that they are trying to learn to swim in order to destroy the world. Helping him on his quest to hunt down his food making marching, which was not truly destroyed at the end of the movie are: meteorologist Sam Sparks, voiced by Anna Farris; newer friend Brent McHale, voiced by Andy Samberg; cameraman Manny, voiced by Benjamin Bratt; police officer Earl, voiced by Terry Crews; pet monkey with a voice interpreter head ban Steve, voiced by Neil Patrick Harris; and Flint's Dad Time Lockwook, voiced by James Cann. As they return to Swallow Falls and see what is happening, their original ideas about the food animals are questions and the real perils they are up against are revealed.
This movie was pretty much what I expected it to be, a bunch of fun and lots of food animal jokes, examples being shrimp-anzees, taco-dile, and fla-magoes. This movies was quite stupid and continues to play on the jokes of the first move and in my opinion was better then the first movie because the premise was already set up and it didn't really needs to go into the science of the food machine, it just went for the story, the trickery of Flint and his naivety, and the living food animals. I thought it was fun and that kids would like it. There wasn't anything that scarry about it, there were a bunch of children in the theatre and they seemed to like it as well.
My Rating: 2+
I quite liked this movie and thought that it was a fun time, there was nothing really amazing about but it was fun and I would watch it again should the opportunity present itself. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 brings back all of the main original characters from the first one but follows their story after they leaved Swallow Falls due to all of the giant food being everywhere. Flint Lockwood, voiced by Bill Hader, is offered a job working at a invention company run by his childhood scientist hero. After working there for six months and having his hopes dashed he is tricked by this hero Chester V, voiced by, Will Forte, and his talking ape sidekick Barb, voiced by Kristin Schall, Flint goes back to his island because he has been told that the food has gained consciousness and that they are trying to learn to swim in order to destroy the world. Helping him on his quest to hunt down his food making marching, which was not truly destroyed at the end of the movie are: meteorologist Sam Sparks, voiced by Anna Farris; newer friend Brent McHale, voiced by Andy Samberg; cameraman Manny, voiced by Benjamin Bratt; police officer Earl, voiced by Terry Crews; pet monkey with a voice interpreter head ban Steve, voiced by Neil Patrick Harris; and Flint's Dad Time Lockwook, voiced by James Cann. As they return to Swallow Falls and see what is happening, their original ideas about the food animals are questions and the real perils they are up against are revealed.
This movie was pretty much what I expected it to be, a bunch of fun and lots of food animal jokes, examples being shrimp-anzees, taco-dile, and fla-magoes. This movies was quite stupid and continues to play on the jokes of the first move and in my opinion was better then the first movie because the premise was already set up and it didn't really needs to go into the science of the food machine, it just went for the story, the trickery of Flint and his naivety, and the living food animals. I thought it was fun and that kids would like it. There wasn't anything that scarry about it, there were a bunch of children in the theatre and they seemed to like it as well.
My Rating: 2+
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (2013): Main Trailer
The new trailer for The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug was released today.
Watch below
To be honest I don't really care what the trailer is about or shows, as it doesn't really show much, what it really does is get me excited for all of the holiday movies that are coming out and especially this one. As the Hobbit book was made into three movies and not one, I am expecting lots of fighting as filler and amazing scenescapes and beautiful cinematography (as in the previous one). This trailer hints at some of the squabbles amounts the group and shows that Legolas will be there more then just show. I am looking forward to the parts with the dragon and seeing Martin Freeman continue as a fantastic Bilbo. Is anyone else excited for its early December release?
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009): Review and Recap
After watching the previews for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013) my interest with piqued and it looks like it would be a funny movie, so I decided to go back and watch the original before hand so I didn't have another instance where I saw the second cartoon movie before the first one and was completely lost. And although it was completely stupid and the premise ridiculous (but does it really matter it is an animated movie) it was fun ride.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) is loosely based on the book of the same name by Judi Barrett. I know that I read the book as a child but don't really remember the story line but I know that there were moment of food, such as the big food and toast ships that were referenced in the movie, but it is about an island where food falls from the sky. The movie is centered around Flint, voiced by Bill Hader, who is an inventor who was never understood by the people around him and his father, but his mother always encouraged him to follow his dream. When he grows up he invents this machine that will turn water into food, but like all of the things he does, things always seem to go wrong, and the machine gets sucked up into the sky where it starts raining food. A weather girl intern Sam, voiced by Anna Farris, is there covering the story as the major of the town Major Shelbourn, voiced by Bruce Campbell, wants to turn their island into a tourist destination. It is discovered that Sam is really smart and knows about weather and warns Flint that the machine is going to destroy the world. So Flint with Sam's help fly up to try and turn off the machine and save the world before the giant food destroys everything. While this happens a "like, like" connection blossoms between Flint and Sam, as well as Flint and his dad Tim, voiced by James Cann, work to overcome the disconnect in their relationship due to their inability to understand each other.
This movie is fun but doesn't really do anything special. There isn't really anything surprising or that scary, although the giant meatball around the machine at the end of the movie has some danger to it. It is worth a watch if nothing else is going on and a fun because of all the giant food. I think the second one might be a bit more fun as I am looking forward to see more of Manny, voiced by Benjamin Bratt, who is the multitalented side kick cameraman to Sam.
My Rating: 2
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009) is loosely based on the book of the same name by Judi Barrett. I know that I read the book as a child but don't really remember the story line but I know that there were moment of food, such as the big food and toast ships that were referenced in the movie, but it is about an island where food falls from the sky. The movie is centered around Flint, voiced by Bill Hader, who is an inventor who was never understood by the people around him and his father, but his mother always encouraged him to follow his dream. When he grows up he invents this machine that will turn water into food, but like all of the things he does, things always seem to go wrong, and the machine gets sucked up into the sky where it starts raining food. A weather girl intern Sam, voiced by Anna Farris, is there covering the story as the major of the town Major Shelbourn, voiced by Bruce Campbell, wants to turn their island into a tourist destination. It is discovered that Sam is really smart and knows about weather and warns Flint that the machine is going to destroy the world. So Flint with Sam's help fly up to try and turn off the machine and save the world before the giant food destroys everything. While this happens a "like, like" connection blossoms between Flint and Sam, as well as Flint and his dad Tim, voiced by James Cann, work to overcome the disconnect in their relationship due to their inability to understand each other.
This movie is fun but doesn't really do anything special. There isn't really anything surprising or that scary, although the giant meatball around the machine at the end of the movie has some danger to it. It is worth a watch if nothing else is going on and a fun because of all the giant food. I think the second one might be a bit more fun as I am looking forward to see more of Manny, voiced by Benjamin Bratt, who is the multitalented side kick cameraman to Sam.
My Rating: 2
Stargate (1994): Recap, Review, and My Story
It has been a while since I last watched the Stargate movie or any of the series and lately I had been hearing others talk about it so I decided that it was time that I went back and watched some of it. Of course I had to start with the movie as it was the thing that kicked everything off. If you don't know, Stargate is a 1994 movie that was turned in a television series in 1997 called Stargate: SG-1 followed by Stargate: Atlantis in 2004 and Stargate: Universe in 2009.
My experience with Stargate happened more then several years ago now, when I was bored one day and wanted something to watch. Since none of my DVDs seemed interesting I asked my brother if I could borrow one of his. I decided that a television series would be more interesting because it was the middle of the day and a series would keep me busy for more then just an hour and a half. I decided on Stargate: SG-1 as it was something that I had looked at for a while and I was really starting to get into my love of sci-fi. Anyway, at the time I did not know that this television series was based as a continuation of a Hollywood movie so I just popped the first episode in and started watching. I was confused to say the least as the series assumes that you have watched the movie first and know about all the set up from it. I tried to follow it but gave up because I just had no idea what was happening. A few days later I mentioned to my brother that I started to watch it but was confused and it said, "didn't you watch the movie first." I have to give him credit because instead of making fun of me, which he is known to do, he went and got the movie and said to watch it first as it the basis of the television show and would answer my questions. We then watched it and I loved it. I then watched through the first two seasons which he had on DVD then then all of the remaining ones that had come out up until that point. Since then I became a huge Stargate fan and watched all of the SG-1 episodes and Atlantis episodes as they came out. I tried watching Universe but only got through the first half of the first season but I didn't really like that one. Well I will see how far I will get through everything know that I am re-watching them, but I will take a while and I might still dislike Universe when I get to it. We will see. Anyway if you are not familiar with the movie, read on. I am hoping that they will release a twenty year edition of the movie next year. That would be fantastic.
The movie Stargate (1994) stars James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson, a man who has been studying ancient Egypt and is brought in to help translate some hieroglyphics by an older lady who's father found an interesting artifact in Egypt in the 1920's. He discovers that some of the glyphs represent star locations and that it is a point somewhere in the galaxy. He is then told about the Stargate and how they have been trying to get it to work and see where it would do. It turns out that it is a portal between worlds and a team is picked to go through it to see what is on the other side, he requests being on the team as he is fascinated and would hopefully be able to help the team figure out how to get back home from the other side as it is a one directional portal. Leading the team in reinstated Air Force Colonel Jack O'Neil, played by Kurt Russel. Jack has his own demons that he is facing and is given the mission to make sure that the earth stays safe in the worth appears dangerous. Once through the Stargate it is discovered that they are in a desert like environment and inside a large pyramid. The team discovers that the planet is home to a humans who live as slaves to an alien parasite who claims to be the Egyptian God Ra. This alien is took an human host to hopefully live forever. Daniel becomes fascinated with the local culture and how things are going, as he came through the Stargate the people think they are associated with Ra and treat them well. Daniel is gifted a wife named Sha-uri (she is important in the beginning of the series) who Daniel forms a bond with and explains about their history and shows Daniel historical places that have more writings. During this time Ra returns and his spaceship and takes some of the soldiers hostage as well as discovers the bomb that Col. O'Neil had brought back to destroy the Stargate if it was demeaned dangerous. The people of Abydos are encouraged to rebel against Ra and help the solders but it is mainly a group of boys who initially rise up. During the interacts with Ra, his minions and the Americans and Abydonians, Ra's spaceship is destroyed, the Abydonians are freed and everyone except for Daniel return home through the Stargate as he has decided to remain behind with his new wife and study the culture.
Re-watching this movie, I remembered how much I really like this series and sci- fi in general. It took a while for it not to be super weird that James Spader and Kurt Russell were the main actors, as I have watched the series for so long that those actors embody these characters for me, but they really do set the stage for everything that comes before. yes, some things in the series are changed, tweaked, or ignored all together (I'm talking about them being cold after coming through the Stargate) but because it is such a big deal sci-fi movie and I really do love it, it doesn't bother me.
The CGI is quite out of date as we are coming up on twenty years for it, but this is where having a television series helps out, because I am used to seeing the more TV graphics and CGI it isn't so harsh, also it doesn't really seem like a lot of obvious CGI was used. It was mainly the Stargate event horizon and traveling through the wormhole.
This is a classic Sci-Fi movie and I feel that any sci-fi fan should watch it and it is definitely worth seeing it you have a free afternoon to kill.
My Rating: 3
My Nostalgic rating: 4- This is a huge part of my sci-fi nerdiness and one of my longer running fandoms.
Hold Up Rating: Pretty good, as the special effects did not go for blaringly obvious but is obviously older graphics.
My experience with Stargate happened more then several years ago now, when I was bored one day and wanted something to watch. Since none of my DVDs seemed interesting I asked my brother if I could borrow one of his. I decided that a television series would be more interesting because it was the middle of the day and a series would keep me busy for more then just an hour and a half. I decided on Stargate: SG-1 as it was something that I had looked at for a while and I was really starting to get into my love of sci-fi. Anyway, at the time I did not know that this television series was based as a continuation of a Hollywood movie so I just popped the first episode in and started watching. I was confused to say the least as the series assumes that you have watched the movie first and know about all the set up from it. I tried to follow it but gave up because I just had no idea what was happening. A few days later I mentioned to my brother that I started to watch it but was confused and it said, "didn't you watch the movie first." I have to give him credit because instead of making fun of me, which he is known to do, he went and got the movie and said to watch it first as it the basis of the television show and would answer my questions. We then watched it and I loved it. I then watched through the first two seasons which he had on DVD then then all of the remaining ones that had come out up until that point. Since then I became a huge Stargate fan and watched all of the SG-1 episodes and Atlantis episodes as they came out. I tried watching Universe but only got through the first half of the first season but I didn't really like that one. Well I will see how far I will get through everything know that I am re-watching them, but I will take a while and I might still dislike Universe when I get to it. We will see. Anyway if you are not familiar with the movie, read on. I am hoping that they will release a twenty year edition of the movie next year. That would be fantastic.
The movie Stargate (1994) stars James Spader as Dr. Daniel Jackson, a man who has been studying ancient Egypt and is brought in to help translate some hieroglyphics by an older lady who's father found an interesting artifact in Egypt in the 1920's. He discovers that some of the glyphs represent star locations and that it is a point somewhere in the galaxy. He is then told about the Stargate and how they have been trying to get it to work and see where it would do. It turns out that it is a portal between worlds and a team is picked to go through it to see what is on the other side, he requests being on the team as he is fascinated and would hopefully be able to help the team figure out how to get back home from the other side as it is a one directional portal. Leading the team in reinstated Air Force Colonel Jack O'Neil, played by Kurt Russel. Jack has his own demons that he is facing and is given the mission to make sure that the earth stays safe in the worth appears dangerous. Once through the Stargate it is discovered that they are in a desert like environment and inside a large pyramid. The team discovers that the planet is home to a humans who live as slaves to an alien parasite who claims to be the Egyptian God Ra. This alien is took an human host to hopefully live forever. Daniel becomes fascinated with the local culture and how things are going, as he came through the Stargate the people think they are associated with Ra and treat them well. Daniel is gifted a wife named Sha-uri (she is important in the beginning of the series) who Daniel forms a bond with and explains about their history and shows Daniel historical places that have more writings. During this time Ra returns and his spaceship and takes some of the soldiers hostage as well as discovers the bomb that Col. O'Neil had brought back to destroy the Stargate if it was demeaned dangerous. The people of Abydos are encouraged to rebel against Ra and help the solders but it is mainly a group of boys who initially rise up. During the interacts with Ra, his minions and the Americans and Abydonians, Ra's spaceship is destroyed, the Abydonians are freed and everyone except for Daniel return home through the Stargate as he has decided to remain behind with his new wife and study the culture.
Re-watching this movie, I remembered how much I really like this series and sci- fi in general. It took a while for it not to be super weird that James Spader and Kurt Russell were the main actors, as I have watched the series for so long that those actors embody these characters for me, but they really do set the stage for everything that comes before. yes, some things in the series are changed, tweaked, or ignored all together (I'm talking about them being cold after coming through the Stargate) but because it is such a big deal sci-fi movie and I really do love it, it doesn't bother me.
The CGI is quite out of date as we are coming up on twenty years for it, but this is where having a television series helps out, because I am used to seeing the more TV graphics and CGI it isn't so harsh, also it doesn't really seem like a lot of obvious CGI was used. It was mainly the Stargate event horizon and traveling through the wormhole.
This is a classic Sci-Fi movie and I feel that any sci-fi fan should watch it and it is definitely worth seeing it you have a free afternoon to kill.
My Rating: 3
My Nostalgic rating: 4- This is a huge part of my sci-fi nerdiness and one of my longer running fandoms.
Hold Up Rating: Pretty good, as the special effects did not go for blaringly obvious but is obviously older graphics.
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