I'm a sucker for a shark movie. It is one of my personal vices. I'm working through it. And, it normally comes back to bite me on a fairly regular basis. I'm expecting Jaws and I get Shark Attack 3: Megaladon.
So, I get Spring Break Shark Attack from my Blockbuster account. I'll be honest, I'm not expecting much. The title leads me to believe I'm looking at a B movie. I have made piece with that. But maybe the movie will have some kind of redeeming quality. I hadn't ever heard of it, but maybe there will be some funny one-liners in it.
Ugh. No, there wasn't.
The movie was a made-for-TV movie that someone made the mistake of putting on a DVD. It had built-in fade outs for commercial breaks. It had sub-par acting (I expected that), but what really disappointed me was there really wasn't much 'shark' in any scene. There was a lot of dorsal fins, there were a lot of 'attacks' (mostly of people being pulled under followed by an erruption of bubbles and red dye), but basically the movie didn't live up to any kind of miniscule hopes I had.
The movie is not rated. That is not because there is any over-the-top nudity or swearing, or even violence. It is basically a movie that you could find on primetime NBC or CBS or ABC. It is not rated, I'm guessing anyway, because it just never got rated.
I normally try not and spoil movies with my movie reviews, I don't really feel that is fair. But for this movie, as you will never see it (I'm begging you...seriously), I'll spoil the one reason why I'm not giving this movie no stars.
At one point towards the end, one of the lead characters is diving underwater and fooling with some electronic gizmo that repels sharks. In the background you see a shark quit circling her, flatten out and begin to accelerate towards her. The shark gets closer and closer, building the slightest bit of tension, but - shockingly enough - the person gets the gizmo to work and the shark immediately peals off and is repelled.
That moment right there, earns this movie a half-star. Like I said, my standards aren't exactly high for a movie like this. I'm willing to forgive quite a bit if there is some kind of redeeming value...anything...
In closing, I'm stupid. I watched Spring Break Shark Attack. Don't be stupid. Don't see this movie.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Memorial Day
I hope everyone was able to set some time aside for Memorial Day on Monday.
For me, Memorial Day was time to remember and visit some of the family no longer with us. I visited their graves in Jamestown and Edgeley, left some flowers and shed some tears. Memorial Day isn't exactly my favorite holiday, to me it seems more sad than anything, but I wouldn't feel quite right if I didn't acknowledge it.
When I see the final resting spots for some of my relatives, a lot of memories come back all at once - I remember my Grandpa Max flying his Ultralite and my Grandma Barb making cookies. My Grandma Betty, she was kind of the brash grandma, I remember her smoking and cracking jokes. My Grandpa Roger died when I was 12, so my memories aren't quite as clear with him. They usually center around his funeral and how that was one of my first experiences with people dying.
And then I come to my Great Grandma. A writer, she always had something laying around that she had just written, be it a poem or short story. Something that jumps out right away is the story she told me one day about how she smashed a chicken's head on the stairs outside her house. The head cracked open (it actually was a kind of violent story, looking back on it now) and she gobbled up what was inside - and that was how she became so brainy. She always had stories like that, and she always told them right after she 'forced' her latest kuchen or plate of cookies or bars on you (she was that old-school German type of person who believed you were only taken care of when you were fed frequently...I didn't mind). Amazing lady.
She's beside my Great Grandfather, a man I never got a chance to really meet as he passed away around the time I was born. So not really knowing the man, I always wonder what kind of conversations he had with my Great Grandmother. Or if he sat back and marveled at the stories she told, much like I did.
I think about them often, miss them often, but for the most part I only visit their final resting places one day a year. Even though I like to remember the good times, it always seems I turn to them no longer being here and how much I wish they still were.
Maybe that is a big part of Memorial Day. You remember those who are no longer with you, and that leads to an appreciation for those who still are. Like my wife, who came with me yesterday and held me up through the day and drove the car away from the cemetary after I was the one who drove there. Nothing worse than a fat guy crying, I guess.
Or my dad, who also popped by to see his own mother and father, grandmother and grandfather. I got a chance to see his new air seeder and the new farm cat and we talked a bit about how many pheasants and deer are probably going to be around the farm this fall. Simple things, things that I love talking about.
Anyway, I hope you got out and got a chance to talk with those that don't necesarily have a voice anymore. They'd love to hear how things are going and what's going on in the world.
For me, Memorial Day was time to remember and visit some of the family no longer with us. I visited their graves in Jamestown and Edgeley, left some flowers and shed some tears. Memorial Day isn't exactly my favorite holiday, to me it seems more sad than anything, but I wouldn't feel quite right if I didn't acknowledge it.
When I see the final resting spots for some of my relatives, a lot of memories come back all at once - I remember my Grandpa Max flying his Ultralite and my Grandma Barb making cookies. My Grandma Betty, she was kind of the brash grandma, I remember her smoking and cracking jokes. My Grandpa Roger died when I was 12, so my memories aren't quite as clear with him. They usually center around his funeral and how that was one of my first experiences with people dying.
And then I come to my Great Grandma. A writer, she always had something laying around that she had just written, be it a poem or short story. Something that jumps out right away is the story she told me one day about how she smashed a chicken's head on the stairs outside her house. The head cracked open (it actually was a kind of violent story, looking back on it now) and she gobbled up what was inside - and that was how she became so brainy. She always had stories like that, and she always told them right after she 'forced' her latest kuchen or plate of cookies or bars on you (she was that old-school German type of person who believed you were only taken care of when you were fed frequently...I didn't mind). Amazing lady.
She's beside my Great Grandfather, a man I never got a chance to really meet as he passed away around the time I was born. So not really knowing the man, I always wonder what kind of conversations he had with my Great Grandmother. Or if he sat back and marveled at the stories she told, much like I did.
I think about them often, miss them often, but for the most part I only visit their final resting places one day a year. Even though I like to remember the good times, it always seems I turn to them no longer being here and how much I wish they still were.
Maybe that is a big part of Memorial Day. You remember those who are no longer with you, and that leads to an appreciation for those who still are. Like my wife, who came with me yesterday and held me up through the day and drove the car away from the cemetary after I was the one who drove there. Nothing worse than a fat guy crying, I guess.
Or my dad, who also popped by to see his own mother and father, grandmother and grandfather. I got a chance to see his new air seeder and the new farm cat and we talked a bit about how many pheasants and deer are probably going to be around the farm this fall. Simple things, things that I love talking about.
Anyway, I hope you got out and got a chance to talk with those that don't necesarily have a voice anymore. They'd love to hear how things are going and what's going on in the world.
Movie Review - A Clockwork Orange
Anyone who has ever talked favorite movies with me, has probably heard me reference A Clockwork Orange. Arguably (though there are a couple to pick from) Stanley Kubrick's finest film, the movie asks a tremendous question:
Is a person's capacity for violence a bad thing?
It is a very complex question. On one hand, that capacity can hurt others. On the other hand, that capacity can also defend yourself.
And there is also a question of humanity involved here. Is having the capability of violence and choosing not to act on it, truly just a human capability? Is that what makes up the human soul, that notion of right and wrong?
It seems as though everywhere you look, those large questions are facing the world. In bouncing back to the movie review of Untraceable for a minute, the question was asked: How far do people take the anonymous nature of the internet and what are the repercussions of this? A Clockwork Orange, asks this question also, but in every-day life.
The protagonist is a violent character by nature, but also embraces art, especially the music of Beethoven. To a point (and I realize I'm making a bit of a reach here, as some people view the movie differently) the violence he creates is grand and artistic, too. The wardrobe he dons is ultra-male with a sensible sort of style.
If you haven't seen the movie, you must. There is no way around it. None. You must see it. However, let me caution you. The movie is violent. Extremely violent. I believe it is rated R, and it is rated as such for good reason. It shows the basic defiling of human nature and this may not be pleasant. But, to me anyway, it is also necessary in order to appreciate the questions being asked.
When it comes to 'smart' movies, this movie is what I judge all other movies against and I try to watch it at least once a month, despite having owned it for years. It is that kind of movie for me.
5 starts out of 5. If the scale went to six, it would be given a six. If the scale went to 400, I would give it a 400. Enjoy.
Is a person's capacity for violence a bad thing?
It is a very complex question. On one hand, that capacity can hurt others. On the other hand, that capacity can also defend yourself.
And there is also a question of humanity involved here. Is having the capability of violence and choosing not to act on it, truly just a human capability? Is that what makes up the human soul, that notion of right and wrong?
It seems as though everywhere you look, those large questions are facing the world. In bouncing back to the movie review of Untraceable for a minute, the question was asked: How far do people take the anonymous nature of the internet and what are the repercussions of this? A Clockwork Orange, asks this question also, but in every-day life.
The protagonist is a violent character by nature, but also embraces art, especially the music of Beethoven. To a point (and I realize I'm making a bit of a reach here, as some people view the movie differently) the violence he creates is grand and artistic, too. The wardrobe he dons is ultra-male with a sensible sort of style.
If you haven't seen the movie, you must. There is no way around it. None. You must see it. However, let me caution you. The movie is violent. Extremely violent. I believe it is rated R, and it is rated as such for good reason. It shows the basic defiling of human nature and this may not be pleasant. But, to me anyway, it is also necessary in order to appreciate the questions being asked.
When it comes to 'smart' movies, this movie is what I judge all other movies against and I try to watch it at least once a month, despite having owned it for years. It is that kind of movie for me.
5 starts out of 5. If the scale went to six, it would be given a six. If the scale went to 400, I would give it a 400. Enjoy.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
What is a Fresh Start?
I've been thinking about this a bit lately. Is a fresh start a second chance? Maybe a self-imposed second chance?
It seems like, for me anyway, I have gotten into life ruts and when you get a fresh start (by whatever means: it could be you move, you get a new job, you buy yourself some new clothes, you toss out your video games, you quit smoking, you get a haircut...the list goes on and on) it seems like a really good thing. The day is a little brighter and for me anyway, I find I'm a little more energized.
You take all of the past experiences that you've had, the past fresh starts, the ruts, and basically everything in between, and you go into the fresh start with (hopefully) a positive outlook. Sure it can't last. At some point the fresh start will become the norm, that is an enevitability. But the fresh start is something new and shiny.
What an amazing thing.
I'm certainly not endorsing moving every few weeks/months, personally I don't living out of boxes and it is expensive to move. But I do suggest looking for little fresh starts that constantly evolve you, constantly make you new and exciting. Maybe you don't like a whole lot of change because that feels safe and there is comfort in routine - I'm that way. And maybe that is why a fresh start to me seems so exciting and different.
It seems like, for me anyway, I have gotten into life ruts and when you get a fresh start (by whatever means: it could be you move, you get a new job, you buy yourself some new clothes, you toss out your video games, you quit smoking, you get a haircut...the list goes on and on) it seems like a really good thing. The day is a little brighter and for me anyway, I find I'm a little more energized.
You take all of the past experiences that you've had, the past fresh starts, the ruts, and basically everything in between, and you go into the fresh start with (hopefully) a positive outlook. Sure it can't last. At some point the fresh start will become the norm, that is an enevitability. But the fresh start is something new and shiny.
What an amazing thing.
I'm certainly not endorsing moving every few weeks/months, personally I don't living out of boxes and it is expensive to move. But I do suggest looking for little fresh starts that constantly evolve you, constantly make you new and exciting. Maybe you don't like a whole lot of change because that feels safe and there is comfort in routine - I'm that way. And maybe that is why a fresh start to me seems so exciting and different.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Movie Review - Alien vs. Predator
As a huge fan of both series, I was more than just excited when the announcement was first made there would be a blending of the movies: Alien vs. Predator.
There is that moment near the end of Predator 2 when Danny Glover is in the Preadtor spaceship and he sees the trophy wall with the Alien skull. Suddenly, there were so many directions that could be had as two of the better sci-fi franchises went wild.
Be careful what you wish for.
With a movie series that I thought to be extremely difficult to mess up, somehow the crew behind AVP found a way.
I think what was most disapointing about the movie was the lack of energy put towards certain rules that were established in the previous movies. I'm okay with taking a franchise in a new direction (a four-legged xenomorph in Alien3 for example) but basically there were some pretty hard-and-fast rules that were played with here.
First, you have to deal with location. The movie is set in Antarctica, essentially one large ice cube. Apparently, the Predator species is no longer drawn to heat and conflict. Apparently, they tolerate the cold just fine. Forget that in Predator and Predator2 there was scenes dedicated to how hot the temperature was. Forget that in Predator2, the special forces team was going to neutralize the Predator with some kind of cold gas. These AVP Predators seem to just shake off the cold as no big deal.
One theory I've heard on this is that because it was a training mission the young Predators were put in an adverse climate. I would buy that if in some of the AVP flashbacks, the Predators weren't seen training in what appeared to be a desert climate. If they return to the same location every 100 years, it isn't as though the ice just suddenly appeared there.
Second, when it comes to the time between a host being attacked by a facehugger to the appearance of a chestburster, there is little to no continuity to the previous films. In Alien, there is enough time for the infected character to wake up, talk, go to the cafeteria and have a meal before the embryo exits the host. In Alien3, the character of Ripley goes through the course of the movie carrying an embryo. In Alien Resurrection, one character lasts throughout the second half of the movie with an embryo.
However, in AVP the time elapsed appears to be mere seconds. One explanation I've heard for this (from audio commentaries on AVP Requiem) is that the Predators gentically engineered a faster-gestation period to speed up the hunt. I find it fairly sad that an audio commentary from the sequel movie has to explain a plot hole from the first movie.
Third, the Predator species is one founded on the notion of honor. In Predator and Predator2 there was one fact repeatedly beat over your head: Predators do not attack anyone without a weapon because there is no sport. Yet, in AVP the Predator forms a kinship with the human protagonist after she kills one of the aliens, in a near-accidental way. As the xenomorph falls on a spear the protagonist is holding and dies, she shows fear clearly and it wasn't as though she really did much for that kill. Yet, this still managed to impress the Predator enough for him to mark the protagonist, essentially giving her a mark of his family.
Fourth, I found it interesting that AVP made such a point of marking one of the xenomorphs, to distinguish it from the others. In the audio commentary, this is mentioned as one of the movies goals because it had not been done before. Yet, when it came to deciding the masks of the Predators, one with a fairly bland mask survived the longest of the three youth Predators. Essentially the most unique mask was used as a bit of a set-up gag, to surprise you when it eventually falls victim to the marked xenomorph at the film's midway point.
The movie has fault after fault, but there are some redeeming qualities. Seeing the first real 'Alien vs. Predator' scene is fairly amazing. The director put quite a bit of work into the whole scene and it really is the part of the movie that stands out to me.
Overall though, the payoffs are few and far between, the movie doesn't deliver on enough levels to be considered anything but a 'wait for it on TV movie', and its full-of-fail qualities make me want to write a screenplay that would erase this movie from the minds' of fans of the franchises.
1 star out of 5.
There is that moment near the end of Predator 2 when Danny Glover is in the Preadtor spaceship and he sees the trophy wall with the Alien skull. Suddenly, there were so many directions that could be had as two of the better sci-fi franchises went wild.
Be careful what you wish for.
With a movie series that I thought to be extremely difficult to mess up, somehow the crew behind AVP found a way.
I think what was most disapointing about the movie was the lack of energy put towards certain rules that were established in the previous movies. I'm okay with taking a franchise in a new direction (a four-legged xenomorph in Alien3 for example) but basically there were some pretty hard-and-fast rules that were played with here.
First, you have to deal with location. The movie is set in Antarctica, essentially one large ice cube. Apparently, the Predator species is no longer drawn to heat and conflict. Apparently, they tolerate the cold just fine. Forget that in Predator and Predator2 there was scenes dedicated to how hot the temperature was. Forget that in Predator2, the special forces team was going to neutralize the Predator with some kind of cold gas. These AVP Predators seem to just shake off the cold as no big deal.
One theory I've heard on this is that because it was a training mission the young Predators were put in an adverse climate. I would buy that if in some of the AVP flashbacks, the Predators weren't seen training in what appeared to be a desert climate. If they return to the same location every 100 years, it isn't as though the ice just suddenly appeared there.
Second, when it comes to the time between a host being attacked by a facehugger to the appearance of a chestburster, there is little to no continuity to the previous films. In Alien, there is enough time for the infected character to wake up, talk, go to the cafeteria and have a meal before the embryo exits the host. In Alien3, the character of Ripley goes through the course of the movie carrying an embryo. In Alien Resurrection, one character lasts throughout the second half of the movie with an embryo.
However, in AVP the time elapsed appears to be mere seconds. One explanation I've heard for this (from audio commentaries on AVP Requiem) is that the Predators gentically engineered a faster-gestation period to speed up the hunt. I find it fairly sad that an audio commentary from the sequel movie has to explain a plot hole from the first movie.
Third, the Predator species is one founded on the notion of honor. In Predator and Predator2 there was one fact repeatedly beat over your head: Predators do not attack anyone without a weapon because there is no sport. Yet, in AVP the Predator forms a kinship with the human protagonist after she kills one of the aliens, in a near-accidental way. As the xenomorph falls on a spear the protagonist is holding and dies, she shows fear clearly and it wasn't as though she really did much for that kill. Yet, this still managed to impress the Predator enough for him to mark the protagonist, essentially giving her a mark of his family.
Fourth, I found it interesting that AVP made such a point of marking one of the xenomorphs, to distinguish it from the others. In the audio commentary, this is mentioned as one of the movies goals because it had not been done before. Yet, when it came to deciding the masks of the Predators, one with a fairly bland mask survived the longest of the three youth Predators. Essentially the most unique mask was used as a bit of a set-up gag, to surprise you when it eventually falls victim to the marked xenomorph at the film's midway point.
The movie has fault after fault, but there are some redeeming qualities. Seeing the first real 'Alien vs. Predator' scene is fairly amazing. The director put quite a bit of work into the whole scene and it really is the part of the movie that stands out to me.
Overall though, the payoffs are few and far between, the movie doesn't deliver on enough levels to be considered anything but a 'wait for it on TV movie', and its full-of-fail qualities make me want to write a screenplay that would erase this movie from the minds' of fans of the franchises.
1 star out of 5.
Movie Review - The Thing
When it comes to remakes, I have a tendency to be an all-or-nothing fan. Fortunately for me, when it comes to The Thing, I haven't seen the original and so my views on the 1982 John Carpenter creation, I don't have a reference point.
As far as sci-fi creature flics go, this movie should be near or at the top of movies in your collection. Kurt Russell stars in this movie which features a research team in Antarctica suddenly having to deal with an alien species that takes over a host and adapts itself to those characteristics.
One interesting part of this movie is that in 1982 there was no kind of CG to work with and all of the special effects are practical. To me anyway, there is a real appreciation to movie people that are actually creating what is on the screen. Add to that a type of special effect that hasn't been seen in a movie since this one and basically you have one of the great horror movies of our time.
I think what I like about this movie is the levels that it brings. On the outset, you have a horror movie and you can take everything you see at face value. There is an interesting aspect of isolation in this movie, the protagonists are about as far from help as a person can be.
Wilford Brimley is absolutely tremendous in this movie and I do wish he had more time to shine on camera. For someone who grew up watching him on oatmeal comercials, I don't think I ever did truly appreciate how strong of an actor he is.
Also, after listening to one of the audio commentaries, Carpenter brought up an interesting parallel for how this movie related to the world with regards to the AIDS outbreak in the early 1980s. At that time there suddenly became all of these people with AIDS and suddenly these people started dying. The thing with AIDS is you couldn't (can't) just look at someone and say, "Yep, they have AIDS." The same thing with this movie. You can't tell who the infected people are just by looking at them. So (in the movie and at that time in the world) you have paranoia about who is safe and who isn't, and it is interesting to place yourself in that kind of setting.
Finally, without giving too much away, I loved the ending. It didn't exactly follow the prototypical Hollywood ending and I appreciated a break from the norm.
The movie is rated R and the special effects certainly warrant a bit of caution for anyone who does not like that kind of thing. That said, this movie is tremendous and one of my personal favorites. Rock solid 4.5 stars out of 5.
As far as sci-fi creature flics go, this movie should be near or at the top of movies in your collection. Kurt Russell stars in this movie which features a research team in Antarctica suddenly having to deal with an alien species that takes over a host and adapts itself to those characteristics.
One interesting part of this movie is that in 1982 there was no kind of CG to work with and all of the special effects are practical. To me anyway, there is a real appreciation to movie people that are actually creating what is on the screen. Add to that a type of special effect that hasn't been seen in a movie since this one and basically you have one of the great horror movies of our time.
I think what I like about this movie is the levels that it brings. On the outset, you have a horror movie and you can take everything you see at face value. There is an interesting aspect of isolation in this movie, the protagonists are about as far from help as a person can be.
Wilford Brimley is absolutely tremendous in this movie and I do wish he had more time to shine on camera. For someone who grew up watching him on oatmeal comercials, I don't think I ever did truly appreciate how strong of an actor he is.
Also, after listening to one of the audio commentaries, Carpenter brought up an interesting parallel for how this movie related to the world with regards to the AIDS outbreak in the early 1980s. At that time there suddenly became all of these people with AIDS and suddenly these people started dying. The thing with AIDS is you couldn't (can't) just look at someone and say, "Yep, they have AIDS." The same thing with this movie. You can't tell who the infected people are just by looking at them. So (in the movie and at that time in the world) you have paranoia about who is safe and who isn't, and it is interesting to place yourself in that kind of setting.
Finally, without giving too much away, I loved the ending. It didn't exactly follow the prototypical Hollywood ending and I appreciated a break from the norm.
The movie is rated R and the special effects certainly warrant a bit of caution for anyone who does not like that kind of thing. That said, this movie is tremendous and one of my personal favorites. Rock solid 4.5 stars out of 5.
Movie Review - Untraceable
Untraceable, what to say about this. On one hand this movie asked a fairly interesting question, that is how dangerous is the anonimity aspect of the internet, but all-told I left unfulfilled by this movie.
Essentially you have a really disturbed person capturing people and putting their torture on the internet. However, the torture was linked to the number of people that logged on to the website. As an example, at one point a person is cemented into place with a host of bright lamps placed around him. The more people that log on to the site, the more lamps turn on.
Without giving away too much about the movie, I did find it interesting the large question of morality that the internet does pose. If you (the general you, not actually you) are in a world (in this case, the internet) where essentially you have no identity and are not held accountable for what it is you do, what would you do?
I found this question to be almost too big, though, too general. In listening to the audio commentary (maybe it was one of the special features, I can't remember) one of the creators of the movie said if the movie situation was playing out in real life, he would likely log on to the site and watch, only to later be disgusted with himself. In that respect, maybe the movie served as a bit of a cultural mirror and I didn't like what I saw.
Special effects were certainly graphic and I would not suggest this movie for anyone that is doesn't like movies of this sort (I would lump this in with the Saw movies).
The movie is rated R, so basically if you aren't 17, you shouldn't be seeing it. But, if you qualify to watch a rated R movie, it has the possibility of being a one-watch kind of thing.
Two and a half stars out of five.
Essentially you have a really disturbed person capturing people and putting their torture on the internet. However, the torture was linked to the number of people that logged on to the website. As an example, at one point a person is cemented into place with a host of bright lamps placed around him. The more people that log on to the site, the more lamps turn on.
Without giving away too much about the movie, I did find it interesting the large question of morality that the internet does pose. If you (the general you, not actually you) are in a world (in this case, the internet) where essentially you have no identity and are not held accountable for what it is you do, what would you do?
I found this question to be almost too big, though, too general. In listening to the audio commentary (maybe it was one of the special features, I can't remember) one of the creators of the movie said if the movie situation was playing out in real life, he would likely log on to the site and watch, only to later be disgusted with himself. In that respect, maybe the movie served as a bit of a cultural mirror and I didn't like what I saw.
Special effects were certainly graphic and I would not suggest this movie for anyone that is doesn't like movies of this sort (I would lump this in with the Saw movies).
The movie is rated R, so basically if you aren't 17, you shouldn't be seeing it. But, if you qualify to watch a rated R movie, it has the possibility of being a one-watch kind of thing.
Two and a half stars out of five.
Movie Review - Badder Santa: The Unrated Version
I watched Badder Santa: The Unrated Version today.
Not sure what I was expecting with it, but it far exceeded whatever I went into it with. I'm not calling it a modern masterpiece or anything, far from it.
It is basically vulgar and if you are sensitive to that sort of thing, I don't believe you will enjoy this kind of movie at all. It is rated R, and so if you are under age, you would have to get approval from your parents to watch it...best of luck convincing them you should view this movie.
That said, if you do like those kind of off-color comedies, the movie might be worth a watch. Basically the story centers around Billy Bob Thornton as the protagonist, a down-on-his-luck guy that spends time being a mall Santa in order to set up mall thefts with his elf sidekick (Tony Cox, who is tremendous).
He has all the loveable faults of an anti-hero. He really doesn't want the job of 'hero' but basically is thrust into the role because of found compassion for one of the kids who ends up on his lap. Some of his less-polished qualities turn into strengths and he can serve as a spokesperson for how not to live your life. In essence the movie almost takes a 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' kind of turn. Thornton is about as low as a person can be, but by the end you are nearly (I stress nearly) rooting for him.
Other notables in the film include John Ritter (in his last film before passing away, the film is dedicated to him) and Bernie Mac.
All things totaled, I give it a solid three out of five stars. Probably not a movie I would dedicate my life to, but it has its moments and is worth a watch, especially if you are craving a little holiday cheer.
Not sure what I was expecting with it, but it far exceeded whatever I went into it with. I'm not calling it a modern masterpiece or anything, far from it.
It is basically vulgar and if you are sensitive to that sort of thing, I don't believe you will enjoy this kind of movie at all. It is rated R, and so if you are under age, you would have to get approval from your parents to watch it...best of luck convincing them you should view this movie.
That said, if you do like those kind of off-color comedies, the movie might be worth a watch. Basically the story centers around Billy Bob Thornton as the protagonist, a down-on-his-luck guy that spends time being a mall Santa in order to set up mall thefts with his elf sidekick (Tony Cox, who is tremendous).
He has all the loveable faults of an anti-hero. He really doesn't want the job of 'hero' but basically is thrust into the role because of found compassion for one of the kids who ends up on his lap. Some of his less-polished qualities turn into strengths and he can serve as a spokesperson for how not to live your life. In essence the movie almost takes a 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' kind of turn. Thornton is about as low as a person can be, but by the end you are nearly (I stress nearly) rooting for him.
Other notables in the film include John Ritter (in his last film before passing away, the film is dedicated to him) and Bernie Mac.
All things totaled, I give it a solid three out of five stars. Probably not a movie I would dedicate my life to, but it has its moments and is worth a watch, especially if you are craving a little holiday cheer.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Welcome
This is apparently what I've settled on as the new format for a blog. For those of you who are coming here via my old blog, Ost's Posts, I should caution you. When I'm not working in sports every day, basically that means that I'm not going to be talking sports every day.
But, I'm sure that I'll talk about it every now and again. Sports, afterall, are something that I enjoy. But, I'm hoping this new start will give me a chance to talk about all manner of things: books, movies, plays, photography, the Brewers, the Vikes, hunting, etc.
So, if nothing else, welcome to the new site and I hope I serve as a form of enjoyment for you.
But, I'm sure that I'll talk about it every now and again. Sports, afterall, are something that I enjoy. But, I'm hoping this new start will give me a chance to talk about all manner of things: books, movies, plays, photography, the Brewers, the Vikes, hunting, etc.
So, if nothing else, welcome to the new site and I hope I serve as a form of enjoyment for you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
