By Jason Rugaard | Monday, August 30th, 2010
3 Stars
What at first seems like a new edition ‘Young Guns‘, turns out to be a decent ‘Heat‘ rip-off with a young attractive cast. Rap star T.I. has a deliciously slimy screen presence as ‘Ghost’ a recent parolee looking to pull off a big armored car heist. He seeks the help of the partners he left behind while in prison. However his ex-cohorts aren’t exactly pleased at his recent arrival. Some feel he is setting them up, others that his plan is legit. Paul Walker and Idris Elba are standouts amongst a racially and demographically diverse cast. Matt Dillion – Continue reading…
You Only Live Twice (1967) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
2 Stars
The fifth film in the James Bond series, finds 007 in Japan battling the SPECTRE Organization. This rather dull entry is most notoriously know for the first onscreen appearance of arch nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Late screen veteran Donald Pleasence, is excellent as the mad mastermind behind a scheme to steal space-crafts from the east and west; in the hopes of instigating a nuclear war between the two superpowers. The screenplay written by famed author Ronald Dahl is sub-par compared to other installments in the series, at one point Bond becomes Japanese and transforms himself into a Ninja – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
3 1/2 Stars
Aleandre Aja homage to the Roger Corman B movie and 80’s underwater ‘Creature Feature’ is a cheerfully distasteful and pitch perfect horror comedy. With some of the best use of 3D this side of ‘Avatar’. Pic starts out with an attack on a lonely fisherman, played by Richard Dreyfuss in a knowing nod to Spielberg’s classic. In fact the basic plot is very similar to the Original ‘Jaws’, sea creatures attack horny teenagers during spring-break at sleepy lake town in Arizona. Elisabeth Shue is the town sheriff who discovers the washed up bodies of early victims and – Continue reading…
Punisher:War Zone (2008) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
The third incarnation of the venerable Marvel Comics character is the best yet. Beautiful cinematography and a stunning color palette give the pic an exaggerated comicbook feel. Ray Stevenson is convincing as the titular character; comfortably filling the shoes of Dolph Lundgren and Thomas Jane. Both of whom appeared as Frank Castle to varying degrees of success. Unlike the gruesome 2004 film ‘The Punisher’, this pic wastes no time in getting to the action. An early sequence in which our vigilante hero lays waste to a room full of mobsters is as visually exciting as anything in – Continue reading…
The Other Guys (2010) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, August 5th, 2010
3 1/2 Stars
The new Will Ferrell action-comedy runs for 107 minutes. If only director Adam Mckay had trimmed this down to 90minutes, leaving out the excessive and uninteresting action finale. Even at its current length, this is the funnest comedy of summer 2010. Pudgy wimp Ferrell is the paper pushing desk jockey that craves order and civility, that shys away from danger and violence. Mark Wahlberg plays his fiery partner, Terry Hoitz, who’s restricted to a desk and paired with Ferrell as punishment for shooting New York Yankee Derek Jeter. Look for that scene to draw applause in – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Thursday, August 5th, 2010
2 Stars
The Third film in the ‘Step Up’ series has the distinction of being the first 3D musical. That’s about the only distinguished thing in the entire film. Second rate actor and first rate dancer Adam G. Sevani plays Moose, an NYU freshman who’s promised his parents he’d ditch the dancing to hit the books. That is until he is recruited into the ‘Pirates’ a group of dancers who apparently spend a lot of time spinning and flipping around enclosed spaces. All of this leads to complications between Moose and his longtime sweetheart Camille. It’s a good – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
3 Stars
No matter how hard the ads try to suggest that Angelina Jolie’s character Evelyn Salt, in the new film of the same name, is possibly a ‘double agent’ working for Russian Intelligence no movie-goer whose ever seen a political action thriller before will be surprised to figure out that she’s really an ‘ex operative’ wrongly accused with only a limited amount of time to clear her name before all hell breaks loose. The surprise is how believable and comfortable Jolie is as an action heroine, she more than holds her own here. Especially after an extended torture sequence – Continue reading…
Black Dynamite (2009) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
3 Stars
A spot-on satire of the ‘blaxploitaion’ films of the 1970’s. The genre’s strengths and shortcomings are lovingly recreated by director Scott Sanders; Michael Jai White embodies the title character ‘Dynamite’. A loose cannon seeking revenge for the murder of his kid brother. As he works his way through the criminal underworld, our hero stumbles upon a conspiracy to shrink the genitals of all black men. A hilarious throwback to the genre classics ‘Three the Hard Way‘ and of course ‘Shaft‘. Jai White is excellent as the afro-centric Kung-Fu bad-ass, he brings loads of charisma to the action scenes – Continue reading…
By Jason Rugaard | Friday, July 16th, 2010
3 1/2 Stars
Director Christopher Nolan’s follow up to the critically and commercially lauded ‘Dark Knight‘ is an even better and far more ambitious film. Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent as a man able to invade the minds of others to rob and steal information. Until he is hired to use this technology to ‘plant’ information in a specified target’s brain. To go any further in plot details would just confuse, even though Nolan does a great job of balancing a narrative arc over separate layers of reality. The cinematography by Wally Pfister is OSCAR worthy as well as the acting – Continue reading…
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Friday, July 16th, 2010
3 Stars
The latest collaboration from Mega Producer Jerry Bruckheimer , star Nicolas Cage and ‘National Treasure‘ director Jon Turteltaub is a surprisingly fun and breezy ride complete with some of the most magnificent GCI effects of the summer season. Very loosely based on a sequence from Disney’s much beloved ‘Fantasia’ cartoon, this live action-adventure cast Jay Baruchel in the ‘Mickey Mouse’ role. His off-center looks and mousey physique add to his appeal in the role of Dave, a physics major chosen to be ”the prime Merlinian” — an apprentice to Balthazar (Nicolas Cage). A former protégé of – Continue reading…
The Last Airbender (2010) – Review
By Trevor Anderson | Saturday, July 3rd, 2010
1 Star
One of the years worst flicks, ‘The Last Airbender’ has great special effects, but is sorely lacking in every other department. M. Night Shymalan has slowly been digressing as a filmmaker and with this film he’s hit rock bottom. The 3d isn’t great, the acting is worse and the dialogue is of no help. This could have been a decent action flick, but even the action sequences are staged poorly. There really isn’t much more to say, so we’ll keep this review short. If you’re a parent of a child who really loves the cartoons then it may – Continue reading…
What Happens in Vegas (2008) – Review
By Jason Rugaard | Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
2 1/2 Stars
Recently fired slacker (Kutcher) and high maintenance dumpee (Diaz) have a wild fling in Vegas leading to a midnight wedding. Once sober; both parties agree to call the whole thing off, until Kutcher hits a 3million jackpot using a quarter Diaz gave him. Under court order these two unhappy newlyweds must co-habitat for six months in order to divorce and split the winnings. In the process realizing that they really are perfect for each other. A rather bland romantic comedy, complete with lazy writing and uninspired direction. Which is a shame because Kuther and Diaz have chemistry – Continue reading…
Rajan: i am sure a certain harrison ford will equal that record. Stallone becomes 1st Movie Star to Headline #1 Openings in last 5 Decades – News