she said, “30 Minutes or Less is an action comedy that really strikes a nice balance between the two.  I would say its closet recent relative would be Pineapple Express, minus all the things that made that movie fail as a movie.  30 Minutes or Less has high stakes but still allows you to laugh when people get beat up, shot and torched by a blow torch.  The acting is spot on.  McBride delivers a more subtle side to himself that really allows his charterer to be more then just a yelling over the top guy. Jessie Eisenberg plays a similar stoner character that he played in Adverntureland but I can not say it did not work.  I do know Nick Swardson to much but I loved him and Aziz Ansari well lets just say if you like anything he has ever done you will be happy to have him on the camera a lot more.  I am hoping for a true leading role soon but I have to say I am super happy with his character and performances and hope this leads to much more for him.  All in all a solid summer comedy that is worth your time and money.”

Grade: B+

he said,

Grade:

The film references the original so much so that it makes Scream 4 feel like a bootleg fan film. The first in the series made you laugh and scream. This film makes you shrug at all attempts of humor or fright.

Frankly, as much as the film likes to mock the horror of a masked killer lurking in a darkened doorway, these cliches still scare on a visceral level. There is no stalking in this sequel. Just dashing and stabbing. It relies too heavily on our fears of Ghostface from 15 years ago instead of rebuilding the dread and hysteria.

The film might be worth seeing B list actors giving their A game in C grade material, but that fact that all the new blood is spilled, it leaves the series not revived but instead DOA.

Grade: C-

Grade: B+

he said, “The book was an amazing and moving understanding of the fragility of humanity. It’s hard enough to bring a mirror up to the face of humanity, its a whole other game when an author does that while letting humanity see what it will become. The filmmakers grabbed that core and adapted the best Hollywood film that they could have. Viggo Mortensen brings such harsh gravity to the role of The Man as we watch him loose his humanity with the intentions of saving that of The Boy’s, his son played honestly by Kodi Smit-McPhee*.

The film is as depressing if not more so than the book; however, the director, up-and-comer John Hillcoat, pulled some punches for the sake of the viewer. Most noticeably the mood shift when The Man and The Boy meet The Old Man. This scene plays out raw in the novel, but the film version chose to bring a sense of levity for no other reason then to give viewers a moment to wipe their tears. I feel those moments undermine the story and themes.”

Grade: A-

*Watch him in The Road and look forward to seeing him in the US remake of Let The Right One In opposite Kick-Ass‘s Hit Girl.

Grade: B

he said, “There is something enjoyable about watching grown babies behave badly and there is something magical when a group of friends get together and have a good time. Grown Ups is that juncture. The SNL alums have gathered to make a film that marks a turning point as they enter that later half of middle age. Adam Sandler has taken on the more mature roll here showing that Billy Gilmore has grown up even if his humor hasn’t. He plays the Hollywood minded man who needs to find his New England roots*. Chris Rock leaves Black jokes behind and gets in touch with his feminine side. David Spade and Rob Schneider show that they are evolving but not turning their backs on what made them who they are. Even Kevin James, the newly inducted comic actor stepping in for Chris Farley, learns that to be man, one needs to rely on others sometimes.

The film succeeds on many levels. The boys are matched by a strong ensemble female cast. The sight gags, while expected of a Happy Madison production, are hysterically grotesque. And the written jokes as well as the improved ones come off as natural as they are funny. However, the film, ironically, suffers because it is too Hollywood. The script forces character arcs and a sub plot about a basketball game to fit the predictable three act structure of mainstream comedies; however, all the working elements screamed for this to be written and directed as an indie. One can only hope that when they grow up, they will do just that.”

Grade: B

*The film makes it clear that it’s taking place in general New England and not any particular state by having Adam Sandler’s character sporting various state college gear. I don’t understand why they were indecisive here. New England is a pretty small area of the country to begin with, by narrowing it down to a specific state at that point wouldn’t alienate the rest of the US.  She said side note “though they all pull up in cars with CT plates and Sandler wears two CT based pieces of apparel, a uconn hat and a whalers t-shirt.”

Grade: N/A

he said, “I have not seen the original television series nor was I fan of director Joe Carnahan’s Smokin’ Aces, but despite those contingencies this film served up a satisfying popcorn film. And how could it not? It had some of the best ingredients Hollywood has to offer.  Liam Neeson was at the top of his game, even with the handicap of a ridiculous hair cut sported by the original character. Bradley Cooper was delightful as the doe-eyed lady killer Face to Neeson’s Qui-Gon Jinn*. I wish I could say that I pity the fool who tried to step into Mr. T’s shoes, but Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson grew into them as the film progressed. But my two favorite surprise fixings were Sharlto Copley’s giddily insane portrayal of Murdock and Patrick Wilson’s sophisticated, sleazy villain Lynch.

However, these gourmet components didn’t shine like they could have among the exploding action because too many cooks had a spoon in the pot, a common event when a large project like this is left on the back burner for too long. This is most noticeable by the film’s opening sequence being made up of 3 large set pieces,  a unnecessarily sloppy love sub-plot between Face and Jessica Biel’s throw-away character, two action sequences that had the same annoying narrative structure, and an ending that sets up a sequel to no where. But would I see that sequel? Hell ya! I just hope that plan comes together.”

Grade: B+

*Nerd Alert: reference to Neeson’s role as Obi-Wan Kenobi’s mentor in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

Grade: B

He Said: “Having been a big fan original film (not only have I waxed on and waxed off, but I’ve painted the fence), I was genuinely excited for this updated retelling of new kid on the block becoming karate kid kicking butt, and boy did it fulfill all my emotional needs. The film succeeds because it has modernized the story while leaving alone the themes and story structure that are eternal. I have to say that setting it in modern day China, with the state of the global economy as well as our international relationship, made this film as relevant as the original is timeless.

As far as the acting is concerned, I love Jackie Chan.  The way he choreographs his fight scenes with a sense of levity while performing with true gravitas is why he’s star power burns bright while many other martial art actors burn out. His take on Mr. Han as a navite Chinese man verses the original’s Asian American Mr. Miyagi is a perfect and subtle deviation. As for Jaden Smith, he definitely went to the Smith Academy of Acting. Thank goodness the father and son don’t look like doppelgangers because his acting would have felt more like mimicry than talent. I look forward to watching him grow up.”

Grade: B+

Grade: C

He says, “I love and hate what the Frat Pack and Apatow Productions have done to comedies. The art of what these funny filmmakers do lies in their ability to find the hilarious through improvisation. However, this improvisation leads to sloppy filmmaking. Storylines, scenes, and even shots are spastic and uneven because whatever is funniest at that given moment is used in the final cut regardless if that moment comes at the expense of the scene, character, or storyline. I wish they spent this time improvising during script revisions rather than in front of the camera. What made Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Superbad great is they had beautiful scripts that were laboriously perfected therefore giving the actors a firm stage to which they can perform their improvisations. With Get Him to the Greek, improvisation was used to bridge gaps in story and character arcs. I did laugh… but in spite of the mess.”

Grade: C

Grade: N/A

He says, “This modern Frankenstein meets Electra creature feature features two rock star scientists who splice human DNA into an animal gene cocktail in the name of the greater good but really just as an ego boost. The abomination that comes from the unapproved experiment developes to be more human than expected while the scientists become increasingly monstrous. So much care and attention went into the story and premise of the creature, played expertly by mime trained French actress Delphine Chanéac, that the human characters’ arcs seem unevolved and spastic. Adrien Brody showed up and did the best that he could with the material, but Sarah Polley didn’t help her poorly written character. In the end, the premise and plot out weighs poor writing and directing. Definitely worth watching.”

Grade: B

Most would have figured that the Destination Series had run its course after the third film which was fun, but added nothing new the mythology, the heartbeat of any franchise. And if it were any other movie, this would have been true. The Final Destination is a weak sequel that all regurgitates the previous films… but… and there is a but… it is in 3D. The nature of 3D makes it a spectacle worthy of venturing out to the movie theaters, an arena which has seen its patronage rapidly decline for a multitude of reason including the ease of Netflix and Video-On-Demand.

3D Pictures has given a reason for movie goers to return to the noisy, disruptive grounds since now they are accompanied by goofy glasses even if it comes with a $13 ticket price. The once unpleasant experience has become an experience. Movie theaters have regained some ground on their turf war with home entertainment centers where 3D home entertainment is still a little ways away.

For the record, 3D movies are not new. They’ve been around since the 1950s. True, the means of which a 3D film produced is changing with new and advancing technology. However, not much has changed in terms of content. 3D films are still made for the spectacle of 3D… a sharp object jutting out of the screen and into the audience. And there is nothing wrong with that. I hope children films and the horror genre will  continue to make a spectacle out of the technology; I just see the technology being used to enhance the art of cinematic story telling as well.

Imagine a Meryl Streep drama shot in 3D. Image if Spike Jonez started to play around with the technology with Where The Wild Things Are.  What if David Cronenberg, David Lynch, Werner Herzog, and David Fincher pushed the boundaries of what material is appropriate for 3D?

There was a glimmer of hope with the Avatar trailer which screened in 3D before The Final Destination. Although I am not crazy about the subject matter of the film, the 3D technology seemed not to be used not just for enhancing the action, but the story as well. There are beautiful shots that are composed to help us better interact with the world and the characters. My favorite moment is the shot when the main character first enters his avatar and we get a true sense of how long and lean the creatures are: something 2D couldn’t pull off as effectively.

I can not wait for the time that 3D is the standard for film making, where even the next Sandra Bullock rom-com  has the added dimension, but until then we can just look forward to the next installment of the  Halloween franchise, which will be 3D.

Vinny and I have been trying to learn some recipes.  Well I have been on this search to make dishes my own.  Like when I was a kid a family friend always made Swedish meatballs and it was awesome when you knew she was coming to a party because you knew she would only bring Swedish meat balls. so i want to find my Swedish meatballs, anyone have a good Swedish meatballs recipe?  So i have been really into this blog, shelterrific and design sponge, they are both great and i highly recommend reading them daily or weekly if you like.  But i found his great recipe for popovers.  I love popovers, there is this restaurant by school, judies that had the best popovers, even though judie the owner is a bit, how do you say it rude and crazy, but she served them with apple butter, or pop pie or desert and they are amazing and so it almost everything on that menu.  If you end up in Amherst, MA a must eat.  Needless to say our popover where not as big or greasy as hers, even though i by accident doubled up on oil.  i would highly recommend this recipe.  it was easy, fun and yummy, the only thing was that i forgot to grease the pan and if a recipe i am trying out for the first time does not say something i will not do it.  so taken them out was quite a mess but still yummy in pieces!