That's right, the first update that contains three movie reviews so you know this beast is going to be really, really long. Again, keeping the recent pattern going, I watched all 3 of these movies on Saturday but am just now reviewing them. Was it worth the wait? Nooooooooooooo....especially because most of you had no idea you were even waiting for them.
2008 Movie # 23 - Step Up 2 The Streets
Well I never saw the first Step Up because unless I'm doing some sort of movie quest I like to stay away from movies that are so terrible they make me want to die. I can't think of a single dance movie like this one I've enjoyed since the whole slew of them started in recent years. How She Move certainly didn't give me a whole lot of faith.
Now this one is kind of tricky to review because I watched it at an employee screening my theatre held. This means there were like 8 people sitting in the theatre, watching the movie and just ripping it apart. As a result, the experience of watching the movie was actually really enjoyable. However, I have to make sure this review seperates the experience from the actual movie. The experience may have been really fun, but the movie itself is just...it's just ridiculous.
You all know the plot. Troubled girl, dancing, blah blah blah. You're all there for the dancing anyway. At least at times this movie seems to realize that and tried to cut on the plot elements. Thank god for that too because whenever the movie stops to do plot stuff it's just painful. Any movie that contains two people having a dance battle to decide whether the main girl has to attend art school, well I think that's a sure sign the writers just didn't give two shits about plot.
Since you're all going for the dancing anyway, I should say that the dancing is good. The previously mentioned art school deciding dance battle is actually quite cool. Did I mention that dance battle also takes place on trampolines that magically appear from under the floor of a dance club? There's also a sequence at the end of the movie that takes place during a rainstorm that kind of goes on a little too long, but is at least fairly entertaining. This could have a lot to do with the incredibly attractive lead girl dancing around in a wet, skimpy shirt. Speaking of which, pay close attention throughout the movie and you'll see that in every single scene, the material on her shirt gets higher and higher. At least that shows that the director knew exactly how to keep a lot of peoples attention.
So the movie itself is quite bad, but remains somehow entertaining throughout. Like I said I'm sure this had a lot to do with the situation I was watching it in, but I really didn't hate this movie nearly as much as I thought I would.
**/5 (I know I can't believe it either)
2008 Movie # 24 - Spiderwick Chronicles
I remember before watching the new Harry Potter movie last summer (which by the way, I was immensely dissappointed by) and every single trailer was for a movie that looked exactly like Harry Potter. This included The Seeker or the Dark is Rising or whatever the fuck it's name ended up being and this one. I never gave this movie a second thought, had no interest in seeing it and figured it was a complete write off. In the end I'm happy to report that not only was the movie a surprise, but it's actually really good.
The thing I like the most about this movie is that it's one of those rare kids movies that gives kids credit. It doesn't talk down to them with fart jokes and other stupid bathroom humour. It tells an actual story and isn't afraid to throw some darker elements in there as well. The movie has some scary moments and overall is exactly what a kid's movie should damn well be. It actually kind of reminded me of kids movies from the 80's that contained some pretty risque stuff you could never do today.
In addition to not talking down to kids, it's also a kid's movie that adults can enjoy as well. In fact I've noticed it's a significantly older audience who is coming to watch this movie at my theatre. That's probably not actually a good thing though since that means parents aren't taking their kids to see this one. Probably holding out for the fucking Alvin and the Chipmunks sequel or some shit.
Anyway, yea there are so many kid's movies out there who make no attempt to do anything adults will enjoy. They are just forced to sit there bored, wondering how on earth they raised a child who could ever enjoy watching the piece of shit in front of them. Pixar is the best at making movies for both adults and kids and good lord am I ever pumped for some Wall-E later this summer.
I think that about sums up my thoughts on this movie. It's a movie both kids and adults should enjoy with a well told story, exciting sequences and good performances across the board. Check this one out and help support a kid's movie that got it right for once.
*** 1/2 /5
2008 Movie #25 - Jumper
For those of you who are paying attention, I predicted this movie to possibly be the best movie of February. Either this one or Semi-Pro. Well, after seeing it it would appear that my prediction won't be accurate. It's not a bad movie, it's just not a particularily good movie either. It just kind of exists, entertaining for it's very short running time and then leaving you with an experience that's overall pretty forgettable.
The idea of the movie is pretty cool because I mean let's face it, teleportation is fucking awesome. This isn't the movie to exploit it's fucking awesomeness though. At first it's cool but by the end of the movie the action sequences all pretty much boil down to the exact same thing over and over. There are some stand out moments but pretty much all of them are in the trailer. The action scenes are definitely well done with some very cool special effects and location shooting, they just aren't nearly as exciting or involving as they should.
So the action sequences aren't that fantastic, what about the plot that attempts to string them all together? It's not so fantastic either. In fact a lot of the questions aren't even answered, which means we're supposed to wait for the sequel which may never even happen. What we do get is a a brief overview of a group called the Paladins who are trying to kill jumpers, and a big "who gives a shit" romantic subplot along the way.
The acting is hit or miss. Samuel L. Jackson can star in any movie and still kick ass within it. His hair is pretty fucking ridiculous but he does what he can with the role and comes out okay in the end. Hayden Christiensen...I won't like I'm part of the camp that really doesn't like the new Star Wars trilogy and he plays a giant role in my reason why. He's very wooden in this movies and brings nothing to the role. In Jumper? He's very wooden in this movie and brings nothing to the role. It's the strangest thing because it seems like he can act because he's quite good in Life as a House and Shattered Glass. The man is a fucking enigma. Finally we have Rachel Bilson who is a lot hotter than I remember. That's really all I walked away with from her performance.
That about sums it all up. This movie had some potential but in the end it just fails to deliver on it.
**/5
FUCK! That took a long time to review. So now I just have to see Definitely, Maybe (was supposed to be watched on Monday but...wasn't) and I'm allllll caught up.
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