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Fred Claus (2007) -- 8/10
The first in a series of holiday/Christmas-themed movies I'll be watching this month. This was really funny! Lots of laugh out loud moments. The film definitely captured the spirit of Christmas and the magic children can experience. It could be a little sappy at times and occasionally lame (Vaughn encouraging the entire workshop of elves to cut loose and dance) but that's ok. Lots of good actors pop up...Rachel Weisz, Kevin Spacey, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, Kathy Bates. The "Siblings Anonymous" meeting was hilarious -- populated by the likes of Frank Stallone, Roger Clinton, and Stephen Baldwin. Very clever in a film with lots of sly winks (i.e. Miranda Richardson -- Mrs. Claus -- reading "Gingerbread for Dummies"). Vaughn fending off fifteen Salvation Army Santas in a toy store with Caution: Wet Floor signs was terrific. Definitely one of Vaughn's better films and I found it to be a warm, amusing holiday treat.
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Four Christmases (2008) -- 9/10
The second half of my early December Vince Vaughn Christmas comedy double header, and it's another winner. This one was more consistently laugh out loud funny than Fred Claus, and was meant to be as such, although this time around the supporting cast was much more colorful and had tons of great lines. Reese Witherspoon, a talented comedic actress in her own right, holds her own well against Vaughn (no easy feat) and the pair have terrific chemistry. Great show. I was fortunate to see two really enjoyable Vaughn comedies in a row, because I haven't seen a film of his that I liked for awhile now (blech, The Dilemma and The Internship) since dthe earlier days of his hilarity-fests (love ya, Old School and Wedding Crashers).
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Posted: |
Dec 7, 2013 - 8:51 AM
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By: |
Francis
(Member)
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Escape Plan 7/10
Some neat sequences where Stallone's character figures out an escape plan, but for a prison movie not that original, the chemistry (or chemical intake) between Arnie and Sly makes it serviceable as a typical action movie.
Red 2 6/10
Not as good as the first Red as like its actors the concept feels old and it's just more of the same. Did enjoy the Silvestri score!
In the Mouth of Madness 8/10
One of John Carpenter's more underrated films, I really like the premise of a horror writer gone missing and his novels turning to life; the whole Sutter Cane universe the movie creates, works and there are clever sequences where reality and fiction collide, but I always felt as the end credits roll, it didn't drive 'the madness' to the extreme. Also, aside from a kick ass main title anthem, this is a John Carpenter score I care little for outside of the movie. I like revisiting it from time to time and the new high def transfer looks good, but as a movie I think this concept and premise can be improved on.
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The Book Thief 7-10
I really don't understand why this got a PG-13 rating. At best it's a PG film.
According to the ratings block: "Rated PG-13 for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material."
I guess that's all it takes these days.
As to the film itself, I agree with both of the earlier comments. I'd just add that the film and its characters are strong enough that I didn't mind the film's length, which stretches a small amount of plot to 131 minutes.
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THE SOUND OF MUSIC - LIVE 8/10.
This version of the venerable stage musical was broadcast on NBC two nights ago. I thought that Carrie Underwood was good enough as Maria, and fortunately didn't have to carry (no pun intended) the whole 3-hour show. She had fine support from Audra McDonald as the Mother Abbess, recent Tony-winner Christain Borle as Max Detweiler, and Broadway-veteran Laura Benanti as Elsa Schrader. The rest of the cast was OK. McDonald was great singing "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," and Borle and Benanti were featured in two songs from the stage musical that were not included in the 1965 film version.
The six standing stage sets were excellent, better than one could hope to see in a live performance, where they all have to be rotated on a single stage. Even so, during a few scene changes, rather than just making a straight cut between the sets, the director opened the wall from one set to another, which made for some dramatic transitions.
Given Ms. Underwood's acting limitations, you can take the high score above as a sign of the strength of the show itself, which sort of defies all attempts to harm it. I suspect that this version of the musical will play better on the CD (now available) than on the upcoming DVD.
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Lethal Weapon Director's Cut (1987) -- 8/10
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Yesterday I received from SAE, in part, the Criterion Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of "Nashville," the very old "The Incredible Shrinking Man," and the made-to-order DVD of "The Competition" with Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving. In the early evening I watched the Blu-ray of "Nashville" and it was wonderful, although I found myself thinking that I no longer loved it as I once did, although by the time it ended it had regained my interest and I even watched a long and charming behind the scenes special with interviews of various people from behind and in front of Altman's camera. Then, longing to hear my big surround system given a good workout, I put on the Blu-ray of "Oblivion" and, to my surprise, watched it all, again crying at the end -- I like it more each time I see it! This is sci-fi with a heart! Then I ended the night watching "The Incredible Shrinking Man" with Grant Williams, and while some of the special effects are embarrassingly bad, it kept me absorbed, and that movie is over 56 years old!
This morning, after enjoying all the Sunday tributes to Nelson Mandella, I put on SAE's made-to-order "The Competition," and I certainly felt nervous when I put it on, afraid that it might just be a DVD version of the VHS. But it was VERY clear, with crisp 2 channel stereo audio, and while it's not fair to compare it to some of today's new movies, I was VERY pleasantly surprised, and since I've wanted it on DVD for many years, can now take it off the wish list, and I recommend it to those who have fond memories of it. It was so good to see Sam Wanamaker and Lee Remic, both gone, again (and love the closing image of Remic in slow motion), and both Dreyfuss and Irving are terrific. But one doesn't want to look too closely at some of the fingering of some of these pianists!
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Lethal Weapon 2 Director's Cut (1989) -- 7/10
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Posted: |
Dec 10, 2013 - 7:40 AM
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By: |
DeputyRiley
(Member)
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Lethal Weapon 3 Director's Cut (1993) -- 9/10
Going to write my review for this one at length to make up for the lack of commentary on the first two films I just saw!
This is my favorite of the Lethal Weapon films, despite the first entry's iconic establishment of characters and near-perfection of the genre's conventions. Lethal Weapon 3, to me, has the most exciting chases and action, the funniest moments, and the most heartfelt scenes. It's this combination of material at its best that sets the third film apart and showcases the series firing on all cylinders.
The subway shootout, housing development clash, motorcycle chase and armored car pursuit are some of the most exciting and well-directed action sequences in the series. Leo's character is more defined and funnier in this film than parts 2 or 4 and he is hysterical. Captain Murphy finally gets in on the action. Lorna Cole has miles more talent and charisma than Rika and is a kickass heroin. I thought it was a clever shakeup to the LW formula to have Riggs and Rog amusingly busted down to patrolmen at the beginning of the film, allowing for shrunken uniform and ponytail jokes among others. The film's opening titles are frickin' sweet; the shots of roaring flames are gorgeous (who knew fire could be so pretty?) and work perfectly set against my favorite song of the entire series, Sting and Eric Clapton's "It's Probably Me." This is followed by the best opening of the series, the bomb in a building and the dumbass mistake of trying to disarm it. The inclusion of cop-killer armor piercing bullets adds to the threat and dread in the film and unfortunately brings the welcome addition to the cast -- the rookie -- and his part of the story to a violent end.
I like in the third film how the filmmakers continued to focus on Roger's (and by extension Riggs') family, which was such an important hallmark right from the beginning of the series; Trish's concern for her husband, Nick's flirtation with gang life and dealing externally with its tragic consequences, and Rianne's new acting job temporarily disabled by a well-meaning Riggs.
Lethal 3 can be very, very funny and Riggs' and Rog's banter flies fast and furious with each line out-zinging the previous one, but even amidst all the comedy and action the film still makes ample room for what are in my opinion some of the most moving scenes of the series, right up there with Riggs' near-suicide from the first film and his gold pen speech to Trish in the second film. The small moment of Roger teaching his son how to shave and sharing a touching embrace despite the elder Murtaugh's tragic shooting of Darryl is very nicely handled. The following funeral scene, featuring bereaved gang members and the victim's mother in grief is well-done. Finally, the scene with a drunken Rog and Riggs on Murtaugh's boat is the most powerfully emotionally scene of the entire franchise, with striking dialogue and exceptional performances by the two actors. It's a seriously moving scene.
The main thing that lets down the movie is the cartoon villains. There have always been a huge assortment of lame, dispensable, often tragically-mulleted goons but here it's just too much. Jack Travis is a suitably slimy and coldhearted villain, but the scenes with his underlings are too silly. Also, the final action scene at the housing development could have been much more tense and thrilling but the filmmakers apparently felt like there should be a one-liner every three seconds, or every three machine gun firings, whichever came first. Every time the action starts to gain momentum it's cut down by the overzealous assortment of quips. Lethal 3 is a funny movie and the series is known for it's comedy, but in the finale it's piled on way too thick; watch the previous action scenes in the subway and freeway, with very little comedy, to see how exciting momentum can be expertly ramped up.
I know this isn't really anyone else's favorite and the first two films definitely are strong action comedies in the franchise, but I've always loved this one the most and felt like it was Lethal Weapon at its best. It would have been a great way to close out the franchise, with the very smart bookend Rog-in-the-bathtub family celebration to bring the saga to a close. But, alas...
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Today I watched "Man Of Steel," and I have to agree with most here who've said it wasn't that great a movie. I need to thank Netflix, which has saved me maybe $20 for a Blu-ray I would have bought before I started previewing movies through their service. I do feel that Zack Snyder did a fine job of directing it, and it's very well produced. And I very much liked the earthiness of Henry Cavil's Superman -- there was none of the air-brushed perfection of a Christopher Reeve with his Crest smile -- and I must say that Amy Adams was the LEAST annoying Lois Lane I've ever seen on film. And Russell Crowe was fine -- the ensemble acting was very good. But the problem was in David S. Goyer's screenplay, or maybe Christopher Nolan's story, though the movie DID have its moments. But the story was in great need of more heart, which made it hard for me to invested myself and my emotions in it. But I must say that I was relieved not to have to see the masquerade of Superman as the mild-mannered but bumbling Clark Kent hiding behind his thick glasses!
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All in all a good rental. 
