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Hell, I even watched it while playing Dark Side of the Moon once.
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Day 133: September 10th , 2010
Last Action Hero
Did you make a movie mistake? You forgot to reload the damn gun.
I actually dig this film. It parodies the action genre very well for the 80's and has Schwarzenegger having a good time blending both action and comedy, two genres he actually does well in. I think people had a hard time grasping what kind of film it was suppose to be because it bombed at the Box Office.
When watching the film I ask myself, why the hell doesn't the villain just bring back Godzilla, Freddy Krueger, or Darth Vader? He has an unlimited amount of villain he can bring the the real world in order to wreck havoc and get rid of Slater. Yet who does he bring back? Somebody that Slater has already defeated. You could argue that he went the sentimental route because Ripper killed his son, but I thought this villain was smart?
The film plays up on the ridiculousness of action films. Right down to the one liners. Want to be a farmer? ..Well here's a couple of achers! kicks guy in the testicles. The film is an ideal way to spend 90 some odd minutes. It never once takes itself seriously and it pokes fun at itself constantly. Hell, it even has Jean Claude Van Damme. You can't go wrong when he's in a film right?
Last Action Hero
Did you make a movie mistake? You forgot to reload the damn gun.
I actually dig this film. It parodies the action genre very well for the 80's and has Schwarzenegger having a good time blending both action and comedy, two genres he actually does well in. I think people had a hard time grasping what kind of film it was suppose to be because it bombed at the Box Office.
When watching the film I ask myself, why the hell doesn't the villain just bring back Godzilla, Freddy Krueger, or Darth Vader? He has an unlimited amount of villain he can bring the the real world in order to wreck havoc and get rid of Slater. Yet who does he bring back? Somebody that Slater has already defeated. You could argue that he went the sentimental route because Ripper killed his son, but I thought this villain was smart?
The film plays up on the ridiculousness of action films. Right down to the one liners. Want to be a farmer? ..Well here's a couple of achers! kicks guy in the testicles. The film is an ideal way to spend 90 some odd minutes. It never once takes itself seriously and it pokes fun at itself constantly. Hell, it even has Jean Claude Van Damme. You can't go wrong when he's in a film right?
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Day 134: September 11th , 2010
Run Fatboy Run
Love. Commitment. Responsibility. There's nothing he can't run away from.
A decent rom-com disguised as a full fledged comedy. Simon Pegg runs out on his bride to be on their wedding day. Why? He was a coward, she was pregnant and now that she is with someone else that makes him look like trash, we discovers that he is finally the man that she wanted him to be. How does he prove this? He runs in a marathon.
Schwimmer, aka Ross from Friends directs this film. He has experience, he directed a couple episodes from Friends and now his big feature film with a big comedic star. The film is sweet and has it's moments, but never fully crosses that line of hilarity. The film is too sweet for that.
Pegg does his whole Rocky montage, training to run in the race. He gets a huge blister on his foot and his coach has to pop it. This scene is the gross out bit from the film. Ew factor is up high on that one. His coach and best friend is Dylan Moran, a laid back gambler with debts. What gambler doesn't have debts? He is more 'cool' than his character in Shaun of the Dead and less annoying.
The goal for Pegg is to win back the love of his ex bride to be, Thandie Newton. Problem is she is with Hank Azaria. He's a prick behind her back, but a real gentlemen when she is around. The perfect person to hate. Pegg must muster the courage to overcome obstacles that are thrown in front of him. Definitely a Rocky theme is here.
Run Fatboy run is a funny film that has more heart than laughs. Everything works but it doesn't try to be more than it sets out to do. It's a shame because the laughs could have been a lot more.
Run Fatboy Run
Love. Commitment. Responsibility. There's nothing he can't run away from.
A decent rom-com disguised as a full fledged comedy. Simon Pegg runs out on his bride to be on their wedding day. Why? He was a coward, she was pregnant and now that she is with someone else that makes him look like trash, we discovers that he is finally the man that she wanted him to be. How does he prove this? He runs in a marathon.
Schwimmer, aka Ross from Friends directs this film. He has experience, he directed a couple episodes from Friends and now his big feature film with a big comedic star. The film is sweet and has it's moments, but never fully crosses that line of hilarity. The film is too sweet for that.
Pegg does his whole Rocky montage, training to run in the race. He gets a huge blister on his foot and his coach has to pop it. This scene is the gross out bit from the film. Ew factor is up high on that one. His coach and best friend is Dylan Moran, a laid back gambler with debts. What gambler doesn't have debts? He is more 'cool' than his character in Shaun of the Dead and less annoying.
The goal for Pegg is to win back the love of his ex bride to be, Thandie Newton. Problem is she is with Hank Azaria. He's a prick behind her back, but a real gentlemen when she is around. The perfect person to hate. Pegg must muster the courage to overcome obstacles that are thrown in front of him. Definitely a Rocky theme is here.
Run Fatboy run is a funny film that has more heart than laughs. Everything works but it doesn't try to be more than it sets out to do. It's a shame because the laughs could have been a lot more.
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Day 135: September 12th , 2010
The Phantom
The Ghost Who Walks. The Man Who Cannot Die.
I watched this because I really liked it as a kid. I wanted to see how well it would hold up now that I was older, knowing full well that it wouldn't. Much to my surprise it didn't suck as much as I expected. The problem is that the Billy Zane, although awesome, is not really a comic book action star. I don't know how well Bruce Campbell would have done in the role, or what kind of career he would have had after, but it seems the role was too much for those who were suppose to throw on the purple spandex.
This film did not do well, in my opinion, because no one knew who the character was. He was never a huge success. Zane does well, but again the role was too much for him. He dedicated a lot to it too. He worked out and was huge, he wore the suit well. I like him enough to give him a pass here, despite not being a good candidate for the role. The rest of the cast feels shorthanded too. This is suppose to be a big comic book film, yet we are given Kristy Swanson (yup, Buffy) as the love interest to Zane and Treat Williams as the villain. Each person should have exaggerated their roles, yet they were restricted.
The Phantom should and needs to be remade today. This should have been the vehicle to launch Billy Zane as the next movie star. It didn't. He has to settle for being a cult actor. Heck, Titanic didn't even help raise his star status. Other than Titanic, people remember him from a cameo in Zoolander, as himself. I can appreciate this film for what it tried to do, but it isn't good enough for me to recommend to people at home.
At least it was better than The Shadow.
The Phantom
The Ghost Who Walks. The Man Who Cannot Die.
I watched this because I really liked it as a kid. I wanted to see how well it would hold up now that I was older, knowing full well that it wouldn't. Much to my surprise it didn't suck as much as I expected. The problem is that the Billy Zane, although awesome, is not really a comic book action star. I don't know how well Bruce Campbell would have done in the role, or what kind of career he would have had after, but it seems the role was too much for those who were suppose to throw on the purple spandex.
This film did not do well, in my opinion, because no one knew who the character was. He was never a huge success. Zane does well, but again the role was too much for him. He dedicated a lot to it too. He worked out and was huge, he wore the suit well. I like him enough to give him a pass here, despite not being a good candidate for the role. The rest of the cast feels shorthanded too. This is suppose to be a big comic book film, yet we are given Kristy Swanson (yup, Buffy) as the love interest to Zane and Treat Williams as the villain. Each person should have exaggerated their roles, yet they were restricted.
The Phantom should and needs to be remade today. This should have been the vehicle to launch Billy Zane as the next movie star. It didn't. He has to settle for being a cult actor. Heck, Titanic didn't even help raise his star status. Other than Titanic, people remember him from a cameo in Zoolander, as himself. I can appreciate this film for what it tried to do, but it isn't good enough for me to recommend to people at home.
At least it was better than The Shadow.
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Day 136: September 13th , 2010
Heavy Metal
A Step Beyond Science Fiction.
Another film recommend last time around. Heavy Metal is an animated anthology of stories wrapped in a simple package. I remember seeing my dad had a copy of this on VHS when I was younger. I wanted to watch it because it looked bad ass. I mean, just look at that cover.
I had no real idea what I was in for. All I knew was that it was 'adult' and my dad wouldn't let me watch it. I did anyways, and I saw cartoon boobies. I was excited.
Watching it again years and years later, the animation look archaic, yet of it's time. I still dig it. The music is much like the title and adds to the awesomeness that is the Heavy Metal experience.
For the voice actors, it's full of SCTV members, for whatever reason. The only thing I can come up with is both were Canadian productions. They are alright, nothing too noteworthy to talk about.
I liked every story line, some more than others. The futuristic New York with the taxi cab driver always had a special place in my heart. It could be because it was the segment with the boobies, but watching it again, I just dig the whole atmosphere of that segment. Heavy Metal is something I would look forward to watching again, even the remake that is coming down the pipeline. It will be nice to see what they did with it in today's world.
Heavy Metal
A Step Beyond Science Fiction.
Another film recommend last time around. Heavy Metal is an animated anthology of stories wrapped in a simple package. I remember seeing my dad had a copy of this on VHS when I was younger. I wanted to watch it because it looked bad ass. I mean, just look at that cover.
I had no real idea what I was in for. All I knew was that it was 'adult' and my dad wouldn't let me watch it. I did anyways, and I saw cartoon boobies. I was excited.
Watching it again years and years later, the animation look archaic, yet of it's time. I still dig it. The music is much like the title and adds to the awesomeness that is the Heavy Metal experience.
For the voice actors, it's full of SCTV members, for whatever reason. The only thing I can come up with is both were Canadian productions. They are alright, nothing too noteworthy to talk about.
I liked every story line, some more than others. The futuristic New York with the taxi cab driver always had a special place in my heart. It could be because it was the segment with the boobies, but watching it again, I just dig the whole atmosphere of that segment. Heavy Metal is something I would look forward to watching again, even the remake that is coming down the pipeline. It will be nice to see what they did with it in today's world.
Last edited by TheUsualSuspect; 12-04-10 at 09:06 PM.
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Day 137: September 14th , 2010
After-Life
Life is the symptom. Death is the cure.
Liam Neeson plays a mortician who can talk to the dead. Christina Ricci recently gets into a car accident and dies. She lies on the table about to be "prepped" for her funeral when she wakes up. Neeson claims she is dead and that he can talk to the dead to help them with going to the after life. She believes she is still alive. What do you think? Do you even care?
Well the film apparently leaves us clues as to the real answer (as the director says) but then it gives clues to the opposite as well. I thought it was one way, then looking up the special features and the director herself telling me it was the other made me look at the film differently. I don't know if it is a success or a failure.
After-Life is a film that has next to no suspense, thrills or chills. Ricci thinks she is still alive and tries to escape the funeral parlor, yet Neeson makes sure she doesn't. Yet none of this is suspenseful. Instead the film decides to have Ricci lie on the cold table for most of the film and half that time she is naked. When are we suppose to have the debate of is she alive or not? It never really comes up. The ending gives us no answers to the questions we have and instead of being thought provoking, it irritates.
Neeson is very meticulous, everything has to be done a certain way. Think of his character in Taken, minus the bas-ass bits. Ricci pretends to be dead half the film and her acting was the same. She never really stood out to me and always came off as boring. She lived up to that in this film as well. Justin Long is her boyfriend who was about to propose to her when she dies, or doesn't die...whatever. He gives the most emotional performance, tears here and there, times of outrage, so much that he even hits a kid.
The film is mostly just shots of people talking and does nothing particularly special. It tries once with a bizarre scene when Ricci goes into some kind of hell/blackness? Yet it is uninspiring, it could have been the point in the film where we are taken to something special and the filmmakers could have been really creative with the 'afterlife'. They failed at that.
This film is something that I wouldn't recommend to people other than those who are really interested. The bare bones of it, the film is nothing special and kind of boring.
After-Life
Life is the symptom. Death is the cure.
Liam Neeson plays a mortician who can talk to the dead. Christina Ricci recently gets into a car accident and dies. She lies on the table about to be "prepped" for her funeral when she wakes up. Neeson claims she is dead and that he can talk to the dead to help them with going to the after life. She believes she is still alive. What do you think? Do you even care?
Well the film apparently leaves us clues as to the real answer (as the director says) but then it gives clues to the opposite as well. I thought it was one way, then looking up the special features and the director herself telling me it was the other made me look at the film differently. I don't know if it is a success or a failure.
After-Life is a film that has next to no suspense, thrills or chills. Ricci thinks she is still alive and tries to escape the funeral parlor, yet Neeson makes sure she doesn't. Yet none of this is suspenseful. Instead the film decides to have Ricci lie on the cold table for most of the film and half that time she is naked. When are we suppose to have the debate of is she alive or not? It never really comes up. The ending gives us no answers to the questions we have and instead of being thought provoking, it irritates.
Neeson is very meticulous, everything has to be done a certain way. Think of his character in Taken, minus the bas-ass bits. Ricci pretends to be dead half the film and her acting was the same. She never really stood out to me and always came off as boring. She lived up to that in this film as well. Justin Long is her boyfriend who was about to propose to her when she dies, or doesn't die...whatever. He gives the most emotional performance, tears here and there, times of outrage, so much that he even hits a kid.
The film is mostly just shots of people talking and does nothing particularly special. It tries once with a bizarre scene when Ricci goes into some kind of hell/blackness? Yet it is uninspiring, it could have been the point in the film where we are taken to something special and the filmmakers could have been really creative with the 'afterlife'. They failed at that.
This film is something that I wouldn't recommend to people other than those who are really interested. The bare bones of it, the film is nothing special and kind of boring.
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Day 138: September 15th , 2010
Blade
The power of an immortal. The soul of a human. The heart of a hero.
This film gets flak, but for what? It's a really good comic book adaptation. It's a really good vampire flick and it's also a really good action film. Snipes fills the shoes of the Daywalker perfectly and the opening sequences is quite impressive. I enjoy this film immensely, despite the flaws.
Blade is half human half vampire. He has all their strengths and none of their weaknesses. This means he can walk in daylight, hence the vampires calling him Daywalker. He is taken in as a kid by Whistler, played by Kristofferson. He trains him to hunt and kill vampires. After a raid on an underground vampire club, Blade leaves one vamp to burn. The cops get there in time to put him out before he becomes extra crispy. This vamp lives and attacks a doctor at a hospital, Karen. She gets bit and Blade takes it upon himself to make sure she lives...she reminded him of his mother.
Blade boasts one memorable villain, Deacon Frost. Stephen Dorff, having the most fun he's probably ever had in a role, makes him suave and feared. Frost is a hotheaded vampire who wants nothing but destruction and he will awaken old demonic forces to do so. Of course, Blade must stop him. Incorporating martial arts, a Snipes action film staple, shoot outs, sword fights, and gallons of blood, Blade will no doubt entertain.
When you think of Snipes, the role that most likely comes to mind is Blade. Norrington crafted a great film that started a trilogy. Sad to see he had problems with his next film, LXG. While I really dig the second film, this one will always remain the best of the three for me.
Blade
The power of an immortal. The soul of a human. The heart of a hero.
This film gets flak, but for what? It's a really good comic book adaptation. It's a really good vampire flick and it's also a really good action film. Snipes fills the shoes of the Daywalker perfectly and the opening sequences is quite impressive. I enjoy this film immensely, despite the flaws.
Blade is half human half vampire. He has all their strengths and none of their weaknesses. This means he can walk in daylight, hence the vampires calling him Daywalker. He is taken in as a kid by Whistler, played by Kristofferson. He trains him to hunt and kill vampires. After a raid on an underground vampire club, Blade leaves one vamp to burn. The cops get there in time to put him out before he becomes extra crispy. This vamp lives and attacks a doctor at a hospital, Karen. She gets bit and Blade takes it upon himself to make sure she lives...she reminded him of his mother.
Blade boasts one memorable villain, Deacon Frost. Stephen Dorff, having the most fun he's probably ever had in a role, makes him suave and feared. Frost is a hotheaded vampire who wants nothing but destruction and he will awaken old demonic forces to do so. Of course, Blade must stop him. Incorporating martial arts, a Snipes action film staple, shoot outs, sword fights, and gallons of blood, Blade will no doubt entertain.
When you think of Snipes, the role that most likely comes to mind is Blade. Norrington crafted a great film that started a trilogy. Sad to see he had problems with his next film, LXG. While I really dig the second film, this one will always remain the best of the three for me.
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Day 139: September 16th , 2010
Blade II
Know The Mark.
Blade II gets some marks docked off from me for trying to bring Whistler back. I really liked the character but bringing him back took away all the emotional punches from the first film. Not only that, but it seems that he is brought back with ease. Another mark is docked off from me due to a few issues of really spotty CGI. If you've seen the film you probably know what I'm talking about. Hell, Del Toro even mentioned this on the commentary. There are a few instances where the characters are CGI renders of themselves, only they are overtly cartoony and it pulls you out of the action sequence.
That aside, Blade II is a welcomed addition to the series and takes what was good about the first film and improves on it. We have more Blade, more vampires, more villains, more characters to love or hate and great action sequences. The story revolves around a mutated breed of vampires. These new breed feeds on both vampires and humans and neither garlic or silver can kill them. The vampires team up with Blade to get rid of them.
Del Toro uses slick blues for daylight and harsh yellows for night. Interesting to sort of switch the two colours for the sequences, they work. The action sequences are bigger and better. The story has the viewer always paying attention, can Blade really trust his new allies? Is the enemy of my enemy my friend? Or my enemy? That is asked in the film and it is something to ponder.
Ron Perlman steals the scenes he is in. He detests Blade and lets him know every chance he gets. Scud, another new character, played by Norman Reedus, is Blade's new buddy. He works on the gadgets, making new things, high tech. Del Toro would later in his career revisit the comic book world with a character he holds dear to his heart, Hellboy, starring Perlman, but for me, this is his better comic book film.
Blade II
Know The Mark.
Blade II gets some marks docked off from me for trying to bring Whistler back. I really liked the character but bringing him back took away all the emotional punches from the first film. Not only that, but it seems that he is brought back with ease. Another mark is docked off from me due to a few issues of really spotty CGI. If you've seen the film you probably know what I'm talking about. Hell, Del Toro even mentioned this on the commentary. There are a few instances where the characters are CGI renders of themselves, only they are overtly cartoony and it pulls you out of the action sequence.
That aside, Blade II is a welcomed addition to the series and takes what was good about the first film and improves on it. We have more Blade, more vampires, more villains, more characters to love or hate and great action sequences. The story revolves around a mutated breed of vampires. These new breed feeds on both vampires and humans and neither garlic or silver can kill them. The vampires team up with Blade to get rid of them.
Del Toro uses slick blues for daylight and harsh yellows for night. Interesting to sort of switch the two colours for the sequences, they work. The action sequences are bigger and better. The story has the viewer always paying attention, can Blade really trust his new allies? Is the enemy of my enemy my friend? Or my enemy? That is asked in the film and it is something to ponder.
Ron Perlman steals the scenes he is in. He detests Blade and lets him know every chance he gets. Scud, another new character, played by Norman Reedus, is Blade's new buddy. He works on the gadgets, making new things, high tech. Del Toro would later in his career revisit the comic book world with a character he holds dear to his heart, Hellboy, starring Perlman, but for me, this is his better comic book film.
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The Blade movies were lame. Wasn't a fan.
Heavy Metal was great.
Heavy Metal was great.
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"Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and like it, never really care for anything else thereafter." - Ernest Hemingway
"Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and like it, never really care for anything else thereafter." - Ernest Hemingway
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Day 140: September 17th , 2010
Blade Trinity
Third time's a charm?
What could have been a great trilogy, ends on a sour note. Blade Trinity is too mainstream for its own good. Blade takes a back seat to new characters that do not hold a candle to him, new villains that make me laugh more than fear and poor product placement that takes you out of the experience.
Blade Trinity is directed by the writer, David.S Goyer. There is the first mistake. Say what you want about his writing (good or bad) the man was the wrong choice for director. Just because you know the character and told the story does not mean you should direct it. With very limited experience, he had a franchise on his hands, and he destroyed it. Not terribly mind you, but enough to make me upset with the final entry.
Blade has defeated Frost, Nomack (the new breed of vampires) and now what? Well, let's get the old guy back in the ring, the original, the one that started it all. Dracula. Let's not make him scary though, let's get the guy from Prison Break to be him, he can be a model instead of a vampire. That's the impression that is given with this chracter. Dracula is never scary, even in his GRR face.
Tripple H is another vampire villain, complete with wrestling moves. Boring, he is no Rock. Two new good guys are Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel, both pretty people showing their ass kicking abilities. While both do have that ass kicking ability, they do not belong in this film. These characters and the rest of the gang, take way too much time away from the one character that people want to see, Blade. No one wants to see a bunch of kids with tech toys running around killing vampires while listening to their latest song on their iPod. They reference the iPod, yuck.
Reynolds is the comic relief, some bits are funny, others aren't. This character was just misused. That's the issue here. The writing isn't on par with the originals. If you think the writing in the first two weren't great, then imagine this one. The stakes do not feel as high, or does the threat feel that threatening. Blade Trinity is a failure in my eyes.
Blade Trinity
Third time's a charm?
What could have been a great trilogy, ends on a sour note. Blade Trinity is too mainstream for its own good. Blade takes a back seat to new characters that do not hold a candle to him, new villains that make me laugh more than fear and poor product placement that takes you out of the experience.
Blade Trinity is directed by the writer, David.S Goyer. There is the first mistake. Say what you want about his writing (good or bad) the man was the wrong choice for director. Just because you know the character and told the story does not mean you should direct it. With very limited experience, he had a franchise on his hands, and he destroyed it. Not terribly mind you, but enough to make me upset with the final entry.
Blade has defeated Frost, Nomack (the new breed of vampires) and now what? Well, let's get the old guy back in the ring, the original, the one that started it all. Dracula. Let's not make him scary though, let's get the guy from Prison Break to be him, he can be a model instead of a vampire. That's the impression that is given with this chracter. Dracula is never scary, even in his GRR face.
Tripple H is another vampire villain, complete with wrestling moves. Boring, he is no Rock. Two new good guys are Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel, both pretty people showing their ass kicking abilities. While both do have that ass kicking ability, they do not belong in this film. These characters and the rest of the gang, take way too much time away from the one character that people want to see, Blade. No one wants to see a bunch of kids with tech toys running around killing vampires while listening to their latest song on their iPod. They reference the iPod, yuck.
Reynolds is the comic relief, some bits are funny, others aren't. This character was just misused. That's the issue here. The writing isn't on par with the originals. If you think the writing in the first two weren't great, then imagine this one. The stakes do not feel as high, or does the threat feel that threatening. Blade Trinity is a failure in my eyes.
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Day 141: September 18th , 2010
The Town
Look at my accent ma!
A bank robbery goes a little different than planned when one of the robbers takes a hostage. Doug (Affleck) has to duty to check up on the hostage after she is let go, to see if she knows anything about the crew. Surprise, they start dating. Can he continue his life of robbing banks and have a love life? Will his crew accept that he is with her? Will she ever find out? This is The Town.
Gone Baby Gone was his first directorial effort set in the city of Boston, The Town is his second. Ben obviously loves the city and if he keeps making films like these two, I'll be happy with some more Boston. I'm not going to preach about which film is better, their both different. Gone Baby Gone has more of an emotional punch with it's climax and tough decisions. The Town doesn't reach those heights, but it's a well made tense action thriller with a bit of a romance thrown in.
This time Affleck is in front of the camera as well. He seems to have left his pretty boy blockbuster image behind him. I'm thankful, I can only take so many Armageddons or Pearl Harbors. He's matured as an actor, this is evident by his roles as of late. State of Play and Hollywoodland are two examples. Of course he's had some fun films in between, but he's probably the best thing about those. Extract anyone?
For The Town he has assembled quite the cast. Jeremy Renner, who is hot off of The Hurt Locker plays his buddy with an attitude who won't think twice about pulling the trigger if you're in his way. Mad Men's Jon Hamm who is the FBI agent on their trail, his partner is Man in Black actor Titus Welliver, who was also in Gone Baby Gone. I wouldn't mind seeing more of him in films and if he's Affleck's good luck charm, all the better. Blake Lively has a small role and she does skanky a little too well. She has a thing for Affleck's character and she has a daughter, but he's obviously fallen for someone else. Rebecca Hall, who has the hard role of playing the woman who is dating her abductor. Things don't look too well for this relationship.
The Town shows Affleck's ability at directing action sequences. Gone Baby Gone wasn't full of gunfights and car chases, but The Town is. There are three separate heists in the film, the opening, the middle section and the climactic ending. All three are different from each other, one is in a bank, the other a truck and finally a baseball stadium. Each heist was exciting to watch and gave you those Heat moments. It's obviously the Heat was influential in the making of this film. It seems all movies that have robberies in them look to Heat.
Ben Affleck had a hand in writing the film, he of course won an Oscar with Matt Damon for writing Good Will Hunting. It appears he's found his footing once again and hopefully the allure of the blockbuster won't claim him once more. The Town is a successful film made for adults. It's slick, well acted and has enough thrilling moments to keep those who seek it entertained. The film centres mostly on Affleck and his new love and the heist bits are second fodder. Renner is the only one who gets some spotlight from the crew, the other two are simply background faces. The Town does it's job as a movie and Ben Affleck has found himself a new career.
The Town
Look at my accent ma!
A bank robbery goes a little different than planned when one of the robbers takes a hostage. Doug (Affleck) has to duty to check up on the hostage after she is let go, to see if she knows anything about the crew. Surprise, they start dating. Can he continue his life of robbing banks and have a love life? Will his crew accept that he is with her? Will she ever find out? This is The Town.
Gone Baby Gone was his first directorial effort set in the city of Boston, The Town is his second. Ben obviously loves the city and if he keeps making films like these two, I'll be happy with some more Boston. I'm not going to preach about which film is better, their both different. Gone Baby Gone has more of an emotional punch with it's climax and tough decisions. The Town doesn't reach those heights, but it's a well made tense action thriller with a bit of a romance thrown in.
This time Affleck is in front of the camera as well. He seems to have left his pretty boy blockbuster image behind him. I'm thankful, I can only take so many Armageddons or Pearl Harbors. He's matured as an actor, this is evident by his roles as of late. State of Play and Hollywoodland are two examples. Of course he's had some fun films in between, but he's probably the best thing about those. Extract anyone?
For The Town he has assembled quite the cast. Jeremy Renner, who is hot off of The Hurt Locker plays his buddy with an attitude who won't think twice about pulling the trigger if you're in his way. Mad Men's Jon Hamm who is the FBI agent on their trail, his partner is Man in Black actor Titus Welliver, who was also in Gone Baby Gone. I wouldn't mind seeing more of him in films and if he's Affleck's good luck charm, all the better. Blake Lively has a small role and she does skanky a little too well. She has a thing for Affleck's character and she has a daughter, but he's obviously fallen for someone else. Rebecca Hall, who has the hard role of playing the woman who is dating her abductor. Things don't look too well for this relationship.
The Town shows Affleck's ability at directing action sequences. Gone Baby Gone wasn't full of gunfights and car chases, but The Town is. There are three separate heists in the film, the opening, the middle section and the climactic ending. All three are different from each other, one is in a bank, the other a truck and finally a baseball stadium. Each heist was exciting to watch and gave you those Heat moments. It's obviously the Heat was influential in the making of this film. It seems all movies that have robberies in them look to Heat.
Ben Affleck had a hand in writing the film, he of course won an Oscar with Matt Damon for writing Good Will Hunting. It appears he's found his footing once again and hopefully the allure of the blockbuster won't claim him once more. The Town is a successful film made for adults. It's slick, well acted and has enough thrilling moments to keep those who seek it entertained. The film centres mostly on Affleck and his new love and the heist bits are second fodder. Renner is the only one who gets some spotlight from the crew, the other two are simply background faces. The Town does it's job as a movie and Ben Affleck has found himself a new career.
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Not a fan of blade but thanks for the reviews 
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Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
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Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Buddha
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Day 142: September 19th , 2010
Do The Right Thing
It's the hottest day of the summer. You can do nothing, you can do something, or you can...
Do The Right Thing is required viewing in film schools, at least where I went and everyone else I know that went to different film schools. Why? Because it's just that damn good.
Do The Right Thing boasts a cast that is almost intimidating. Ossie Davis, Danny Aiello, Ruby Dee, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, and Sam the man Jackson. Everyone of these characters are going on about their lives and the film feels as if we are just dropping by for a day, the hottest day of the year that is, which is evident by the vibrant use of colours Lee uses.
The one thing that I say about this film is that is makes you feel something. How many films can say that? You can go see a movie, think it's good or bad, but for a film to make you feel something is, in my opinion, an accomplishment. Say what you want about his films today, but Do The Right Thing is his best film and one of the best I've seen. It's pure New York and Lee gives us a great world and numerous great characters that populate it. Every single one has their own little stories, from the Korean grocer to the three dude sitting on the sidewalk just talking jive (yes, that was an Airplane reference).
The famous race rant scene is my favourite part of the film and no matter how you look at things, you can't pin point the thing that ultimately leads us to the climactic finale. Everything that happens happens as a part of another. When I first saw this film I was full of anger at the events on the screen, well done Mr. Lee.
My little complaint comes with Spike Lee casting himself in the film. He is without a doubt, the weakest link here. His acting is just awkward and doesn't seem the flow with the rest of the cast, but then again, he has showered himself with a great cast. Even if he was good, he would still be in the shadows of the cast around him.
Do The Right Thing
It's the hottest day of the summer. You can do nothing, you can do something, or you can...
Do The Right Thing is required viewing in film schools, at least where I went and everyone else I know that went to different film schools. Why? Because it's just that damn good.
Do The Right Thing boasts a cast that is almost intimidating. Ossie Davis, Danny Aiello, Ruby Dee, Bill Nunn, John Turturro, and Sam the man Jackson. Everyone of these characters are going on about their lives and the film feels as if we are just dropping by for a day, the hottest day of the year that is, which is evident by the vibrant use of colours Lee uses.
The one thing that I say about this film is that is makes you feel something. How many films can say that? You can go see a movie, think it's good or bad, but for a film to make you feel something is, in my opinion, an accomplishment. Say what you want about his films today, but Do The Right Thing is his best film and one of the best I've seen. It's pure New York and Lee gives us a great world and numerous great characters that populate it. Every single one has their own little stories, from the Korean grocer to the three dude sitting on the sidewalk just talking jive (yes, that was an Airplane reference).
The famous race rant scene is my favourite part of the film and no matter how you look at things, you can't pin point the thing that ultimately leads us to the climactic finale. Everything that happens happens as a part of another. When I first saw this film I was full of anger at the events on the screen, well done Mr. Lee.
My little complaint comes with Spike Lee casting himself in the film. He is without a doubt, the weakest link here. His acting is just awkward and doesn't seem the flow with the rest of the cast, but then again, he has showered himself with a great cast. Even if he was good, he would still be in the shadows of the cast around him.
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this movie 
Really impressed that you're still keeping up with this. I'm gonna have to sit down soon and tag a lot of these. I think I've gotten most of them, but there's probably a few older ones I missed, along with all the newer ones! Awesome job man.
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I hate Spike Lee. He's only had one good movie which was Inside Man. All his other films are garbage.
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I hate Spike Lee. He's only had one good movie which was Inside Man. All his other films are garbage.
But Inside Man is the most mainstream movie he has done. I don't think that's the only good movie of his entire career.
He is just not your Spielberg or Michael Bay.. but he is still good.
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