Review - Insidious

Insidious is... well, pretty ridiculous.

There comes a time every couple of months that I try... try... to give a movie the benefit of the doubt despite the constant heckling of the nay-sayers. Insidious was the ticket I punched most recently in those regards and I must admit that I was extremely let down. Granted, the red flags were a plenty and I should have "known better", but horror films have a very special place in my heart. Boy, did Insidious taint that special place.

One of the heavy influences behind my blowing ten bucks against my better judgement, was that the first 30 minutes or so had been hyped to such an insane level, that critics seemed baffled by the rest of the movie. Quite honestly, I'm baffled by the over-hype of the opening act. Don't get me wrong, that opening sequence with the title of the film in large, candle-lit letters, and blaring pipe organs was awesome. After that... I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.

The premise behind Insidious is pretty simple and not complex at all. Family moves into a new house (cliche), only to find that there house is haunted (cliche), but it turns out it's their son that's haunted instead (disappointing). The film had its fair share of well-crafted visuals, but most of them were either during the opening credit sequence or ruined by the trailer. By the movie's end, the plot falls into a whole new realm of ridiculousness that I can only explain as a bizarre cross between Jeepers Creepers and Star Wars: Episode I. Don't make the same mistake I did and head my words- this movie is not worth your time or money.

Gordo gives it a...



Review - Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids
This movie took me by surprise. When it comes to comedies I usually will refer to TV series or early 90s and 80s movies. It just seems these days that people try too hard to make something that isn't funny...funny. Take for instance movies like; Due Date, the Hangover (I personally did not like it), Date Night. I know some people like these movies but I hate over the top comedies. I am usually not one to say "Oh...that would never happen," but in the case of comedies I like to see things that could happen. Real life is funny so naturally it would make for good humor in a movie. This movie is the funniest movie I have seen in a very long time. The whole cast has very good chemistry and work very well together. The plot is simple and creates great humor out of being a maid of honor and jealousy that follows. Kristen Wiig does a great job of not what I call...over acting. If you are looking for a great laugh this is your movie.

Bridesmaids gets a...

Review - The Wrestler

The Wrestler

After reading and hearing many praises about this movie I was able to sit down and watch this masterpiece. I honestly do not even know where to begin with reviewing this moving because it was entertaining from beginning to end. The Wrestler is the story of a famed wrestler's fall from the top. Throughout the movie you see a man, Randy "The Ram," (Micky Rourke) do everything for the one aspect of his life that hasn't failed him. To The Ram wrestling is his wife, children, job, and hobby. Even though Randy is 100 percent involved with wrestling, his health and welfare is falling...FAST. The plot and story is a very simple idea but executed so well that it is captivating and intriguing. Once Randy gets the idea that maybe his wrestling days are truly over the harshness of life brings him back to the one thing that has been there for him. In the end you really sympathize for Randy for the simple fact that no matter how hard he tries to live a "normal" life he has always fell short. Now for the acting...Micky Rourke was...amazing. Rourke's look alone made him perfect for the part but add that he did an equally awesome job at properly portraying the character. In my great opinion this role was made for Rourke. Prior to watching this movie I read that this movie coincides with the Black Swan, also a movie directed by Darren Aronofsky. These movies are very similar but opposite at the same time and work perfectly with each other. If you have never seen either of these movies I suggest watching Black Swan first and follow up with The Wrestler.

The Wrestler gets, from me, and deserves a....

Joe

Review - Due Date

Due Date

There are a few good things about this movie. One, the simplicity is extremely easy to follow and makes for a easy watch. Two, Robert Downey Jr. is a pretty good actor. Three, I don't believe I can find a third. Personally I can not stand the sight of Zach Galifianakis. I think his face is stupid and it makes me want to punch his face continually until he looks like mush. I really can't put my finger on it but he angers me. As far as the movie is concerned it draws a few cheap laughs. The story is really simple, as I stated before, a guy needs to get somewhere on time, travels unwillingly, and everything that could happen...happens. Some people seem to think Galifianakis is funny but to me he is nothing more than the sterotypical jokester teenage humor if you will. Downey on the other hand delivers all of the funniest parts of the movie which tends to be over the top sarcasm and to me that is very funny. Like I stated before the movie is easy to watch and is good for a few cheap laughs but isn't really anything else beyond that.

Due Date comes out (get the baby joke) to be a...

Joe

Review - Death Proof

Death Proof

Think about riding a bike. Now think how hard riding a bike is up a hill. Now remember the THRILL of getting to the top and just let it coast all the way down the hill. Death Proof does just that for me. It took a while to build and for me to get interested. The first half of the movie is extremely predictable and I find myself constantly thinking, "Did Tarantino really direct this?" I was beyond confused because I have always known Tarantino to keep things interesting which he did but it wasn't until he "reached the top of the hill." The first half was slow to start but set up of the rest of the movie perfectly and while it was slow and awkward at times it was 100 percent necessary to pull off this sort of movie. The second half of the movie was not as grueling to watch and just like reaching the top of the hill is very statisfying to coast through. Just as if you were on a bike coasting to the bottom the ending of this movie leaves you wanting to say, "Wow that was great!" It is completely worth the wait and required patience just to see the second half of the movie and ending but you cannot simply skip to the second part because then it would not be as rewarding to see the end.

Death Proof deserves an...


Joe

Kick-Ass

For Gordo's review of Kick-Ass check out his page

Hmmm....

I don't understand...