Superbad

I knew Superbad was going to be good, if not great, the moment I saw the preview months ago. With people like Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, Michael Cera, Bill Hader, and Jonah Hill involved, you just can’t go wrong. And when Apatow is producing, you just know that he’ll pull from his ever-expanding posse to make memorable cameos in his films (i.e. Martin Starr as a cokehead). Like films and shows that these people have done, you get extreme honesty (maybe too much sometimes) and heart, because you really can’t have one without the other. Superbad has just that via teens with raging hormones and end-of-the-year/off-to-college emotions. Seth and Evan have a realistic relationship with fighting, cursing, apologizing, laughing, and even carrying one another. McLovin’ definitely steals some of the greatest lines/moments of the film, but hearing the assumingly innocent Cera swear like a sailor is strangely endearing. The scenes with the cops are entertaining but maybe one segment too long, as some of the dialogue/action gets a bit redundant. Although the plot is pretty much revolved around the boys getting laid, the movie itself is anything but.

Becoming Jane

Unlike other great films adapted from Jane Austen novels, such as “Pride & Prejudice” and “Sense & Sensibility,” “Becoming Jane,” inspired by the Victorian-era’s author’s life and perhaps her only brush with love, is tiring and slightly uninspired. The beginning is slow and never truly picks up a healthy pace, making it difficult to feel completely involved in Austen’s family and love life. Anne Hathaway looks and feels right for the part, but her English accent seems a bit off, although I can’t claim that I’m an expert on such matters. James McAvoy, who plays Jane’s maybe one and only lover, is a charming lad with respectable morals and is the supposedly the man behind Austen’s self-created Mr. Darcy (minus the happy ending). Lacking a real heart and soul, the film eventually becomes a huge downer for all involved – audience included. And really, we never quite learn what it means to “become Jane” as the story is an all too bittersweet glimpse into the author’s one romantic encounter.

What I'm Loving Right Now

Ok, that's sort of cheating, since I've loved So You Think You Can Dance the past three summers, but I love it even more right now because it fulfills this void in my life that I've been missing ever since I stopped dancing competitively five years ago. I miss it, but at least I can live vicariously through a reality show. There have been some really great, creative pieces choreographed this season, so here's a few that are fun and I thought stood out. Make sure to check out the finale next week!

Neil and Sabra (my favorite to win) do a cool business-inspired Jazz routine


Pasha and Sara having fun with suspenders and the 80s' aerobic look


Neil and Lauren dancing a trippy, strange contemporary piece


Pasha and Lacey, as a mannequin, dancing to one of my favorite songs

The Conezone

I realized that this blog desperately needed some Conan love, so I thought I'd give a few links for those that have time to waste and need a good laugh. Just some of my favorite moments include the Walker Texas Ranger lever, Conando, Fagerstrom, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, ridiculous interviews, faux commercials, an Emmy intro, and so much more...I even just recently came across the first ever episode of Late Night, which is very strange to watch, but entertaining nonetheless.

Also, Michael Cera was a guest last night and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to post the interview, especially since he gives San Diego some love...kinda.

The Bourne Ultimatum

By far, The Bourne Ultimatum is THE BEST threequel of the summer. Maybe even the best, most solid movie of the summer, threequels aside. Or maybe even ever. I mean, come on, those fight and chase sequences are unreal, but in a more realistic way than anything seen in something like Transformers. That, of course, is due to the wonderfully fresh directing of Paul Greengrass, who mastered the classic Bourne camera movements and editing when he took over to direct the second installment (I can’t even imagine how they go about editing one of these). These movies have also proved how bankable of a star Matt Damon is, but also shows his physical prowess and just plain badassness as an actor. This time around, we get plenty of action on three continents, with exciting and tense sequences in London, Madrid, Tangiers, and New York, among other great locales. Jason Bourne is continuing his quest of self-discovery after being a CIA agent overcome with amnesia, and finally we get some flashbacks and some closure to his eerily forgotten past. I was glad to see Julia Stiles kick some ass, and that scene with her conveniently bearing a similar look to Franka Potente’s Marie from the first film was a nice, poignant touch. What’s also so great about the movie, just like the first two, is that there is such great energy exuding from the characters (even from Joan Allen and David Strathairn in their offices) and the fast pace is perfect. Now, I love spy movies and anything that involves an engaging chase, and The Bourne Ultimatum has got to be one of the best. Hot damn, that sequence in Morocco was probably one of the tightest things I’ve seen on film – and I don’t use the word tight lightly – as well as the car chase in NYC. Props to the stunt coordinators and fight choreographers for bringing some solid action-packed entertainment and for showing us all how you can kill a man with a towel and a book. Although those behind the series have mentioned a fourth Bourne as a possibility in the future, I would be completely satisfied if these three were it. The third ends seamlessly, hitting the right note with accompaniment by the perfectly placed sounds of Moby’s “Extreme Ways.” I could never get enough of Jason Bourne, but sometimes it’s good to end a respectable, well-handled franchise while you’re still on top and ahead of the game – and we all know that the man known as Jason Bourne certainly is.

Directed by Paul Greengrass
Runtime: 111 minutes

Hot Rod

All I can say is that I’m so disappointed. Hot Rod gets a case of the “good trailer, bad movie” blues. Honestly, all the mildly funny stuff is in the preview. Beyond a few ridiculous lines/stunts that let out a laugh or two, most the time you’re watching going “What the…?” I mean, Will Arnett wasn’t even funny in this – and that’s saying something. Andy Samberg is charismatic enough to keep the movie going, but barely. He, with costar Jorma Taccone and director Akiva Schaffer, are the creators behind many Saturday Night Live Digital Shorts, such as the popular Lazy Sunday and D*** in a Box, as well as their own online videos under their team name, The Lonely Island. So they’re used to creating great bits of sketch comedy, which is made to last only a few minutes – not for the duration of a feature film. This story could have worked much better if it was just a short video online. Their skills at making random, absurd videos can constantly be felt throughout the film, but unfortunately for the moviegoer it’s not a scheme that works well. The storyline and random off-the-wall bits feel awkward, and you feel awkward watching it. Samberg plays Rod Kimble, a wannabe stuntman, who plans to earn money for a heart transplant for his dying stepfather – just so he can keep him alive in order to kick his ass, thus proving himself a man. Hmm. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Is that meant to be funny, cruel, or just plain dumb? Well, I can definitely say that the movie is dumb, that it cruelly wastes your time (when you could have seen The Bourne Ultimatum again), and that it’s funny – funny because you walk out laughing at yourself just to make you feel better about spending ten bucks on it.

Directed by Akiva Schaffer
Runtime: 88 minutes

The Simpsons Movie

It’s very strange seeing the family of five, along with the rest of Springfield on the big screen. After years of seeing them on the small tube at home, it’s almost shocking to see so much of them (and so much of Bart!). It’s also different to watch them at a cinematic pace, for an hour and a half – as opposed to simply 22 minutes. I have to agree with how film critic Richard Roeper put it, that it’s a solid film but nothing that makes you really laugh out loud, but it keeps you chuckling throughout. The comedy here is much more subtle, just like the show, with hidden and off-to-the-side jokes. The storyline is good, with Homer putting all of Springfield in peril and then of course dealing with the problem by fleeing to the “country of Alaska,” and in-the-now topics like global warming and bad reality shows (Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?) are cleverly present. Of course, as many episodes have turned out, there is a heart to the movie with the Simpson family having doubts about one another and Lisa falling in love. However, I would have liked to see characters like Sideshow Bob or more of Apu and Milhouse and even more celebrity cameos. Nonetheless, The Simpsons have a good time on screen, but they’re best in your living room, where they’ve been a whole 18 years. But at least one thing got cleared up in the movie, which was hands down the best line/moment of the movie – we finally know Ralph Wiggum’s sexual orientation.

Directed by David Silverman
Runtime: 87 minutes

Comic-Con (Saturday, July 28)

So my second day at Comic-Con ran much more smoothly than the first, but there were mucho mucho gente everywhere. I drove to Old Town and took the trolley downtown to avoid both the masses and the high parking fees. Luckily when I arrived at the convention center at 9:30 a.m., Hall H was open and not nearly as full as I feared. I managed to get a pretty good seat toward the front and prepared myself for a long day inside the huge hall. I had my Entertainment Weekly and a plethora of snacks to keep me busy during the breaks between each panel.

First up was The Simpsons, to promote both the show and movie. There were mostly writers there, including creator Matt Groening, and Yeardley Smith, who voices Lisa. As imagined, the group was very funny and sharp with every question thrown their way. They showed a funny deleted scene from the movie and promised that if you hated the clip, then you’d love the movie. Aside from singing “Spider-Pig” for everybody, the discussion mostly remained on the series, which is going into its 19th season. There will be an episode about Ralph Wiggum being a presidential candidate in the ‘08 election, as well as more from Sideshow Bob. They also whetted our appetites by showing a clip from the upcoming Treehouse of Horror episode.

The men behind Reno 911! came out to promote their kung-fu ping-pong inspired comedy, Balls of Fury. Tom Lennon, who is most famously known as Lt. Dangle, came out in his ping-pong attire (a very tight spandex unitard) from the film. Star Dan Fogler was also there. The three of them mostly kept joking around with each other, but it was quite entertaining when they all ogled over a girl dressed as Princess Leia (the golden bikini from ‘Jedi’) who was trying to ask them a question. The guys also talked about working with Christopher Walken (Fogler does quite a good impression) and how he likes to pull pranks on the cast and crew, such as telling everyone it’s his birthday. Apparently he told people it was his birthday three different days during the shoot.

To promote their new “horror” movie, The Stranger, stars Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler (her first convention ever) stopped by with first-time director Bryan Bertino, all of which were really nervous. The clips weren’t very frightening, and you could tell people didn’t really know what to ask, so most of the questions were posed toward Liv and her role in Lord of the Rings.

The production crew (including LotR alum Richard Taylor!) behind the Narnia series came out to show some exclusive clips from the second installment, Prince Caspian. Speaking of the prince, casting sure did a good job of finding a charming and handsome young lad to play the role. Via satellite from Prague, the prince himself, Ben Barnes, and director Andrew Adamson talked a bit about the film, but couldn’t chat too long as the time difference made it their bedtime, although they joked that Ben was really just going to hit up the clubs. But I bet he really was.

To prove that Pixar knows how to do things right, writer and director, Andrew Stanton, came to discuss the next Pixar film, Wall-E. The film follows a robot of the same name made to act as a trash compactor on Earth. After humans leave the planet because it becomes too uninhabitable, Wall-E slowly but surely compacts trash over the course of 700 years, only to develop a very un-robot characteristic – emotion. Sound designer Ben Burtt (he worked on Star Wars and is the man behind R2-D2) gave us all a taste of the sound that each robot makes in the film. Interestingly, the film has very little to no dialogue in it. To show just what they meant, they treated us with a great 5 minute scene from the film. I think it looks terrific and there was not a word spoken, which almost made it more touching. I think everyone will enjoy this one, which comes out next summer.

Edward Norton came to discuss his involvement in the next attempt to wrangle The Incredible Hulk, which he surprisingly wrote the script to, as well as stars in. He is a very well-spoken, intelligent man and I have nothing but the utmost respect for him as a person and actor. Liv Tyler is also in the film and came out in a new outfit. The film just started shooting so they unfortunately didn’t have anything to show us.

The gang from Iron Man (director Jon Favreau, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, and the man himself, Robert Downey Jr.) visited to show the exclusive Comic-Con footage of the film. Although it was what I saw on Thursday, the reaction in the room was unbelievable. People were going crazy, in a good way. What was really cool though was the fact that this was the first time any of the actors had seen any footage, so their reaction was just the same as the crowd – they were extremely impressed and excited. Needless to say, I think we have another great superhero blockbuster on our hands.

The panel for the vampire/horror film, 30 Days of Night, showed a few bits of the film and it actually looks quite terrifying. Before the panel began, the people running Comic-Con announced that small children should leave the room due to the graphic nature of the film. I can’t blame them. They showed a clip that featured a blood-thirsty little girl that obviously had to be killed, so the scene ended right before said moment occurred, leaving the most of the audience disappointed. Star Josh Hartnett said it pretty nicely after some people groaned, “It’s okay if we imply violence toward children, but apparently it’s not okay to actually show it.” That might not be word for word, but you get the idea.

Lastly, and really the main reason I came for the day, was for the Superbad panel. So producer Judd Apatow (only the mastermind behind some of my favorite projects) came out sporting a white tee with Bill Haverchuck (Freaks & Geeks) on it. Classic. Apatow should seriously do stand up. He had the crowd going for quite awhile, doing jokes about how he was surprised there were such hot women at these sorts of things and about how just because you might be dressed up as a Stormtrooper it doesn’t give you the right to fart all the time (this was after saying that the whole place smelled like farts). Also present was the director, another producer, writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, and stars Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Christopher “McLovin” Mintz-Plasse. Oh yeah, and then they brought out that girl in Knocked Up who’s always stoned, who’s name is apparently Charlyne and is also apparently dating Michael Cera (I think I cried a little when I found that out). Anyway, they showed two scenes from the movie, and it looks absolutely hilarious and crude – a good combo in my book. A lot of Q&A went to Michael Cera, about his Internet show “Clark and Michael” and questions like “Can I have your baby?” and “When are you making the Arrested Development movie?” There was definitely a lot of Arrested Development love in the room (!). Also, Apatow showed us two scenes from his next film, Walk Hard, due out at the end of the year. It’s basically a parody of musician biopics like Ray and Walk the Line, but this one stars John C. Reilly as the fictional Dewey Cox. So we saw the first five minutes of the movie, which was pretty darn funny, and then a musical scene from later on, with love interest Jenna Fischer (Pam of The Office), which contained a lot of hilarious sexual innuendoes. But you really can’t expect anything less from Mr. Apatow.

Can't get enough of...

...Flight of the Conchords! I know I've already posted about them, but they're just that good that I have to post more videos. How can you not love Bret and Jemaine (I'm talking to you, Nick)? Seriously, think about it, think think about it.



And getting lewd with two dudes!

Comic-Con International (Thursday, July 26)

First of all, I just have to say that I’m disappointed that I was unable to get one of the free giveaways, which was promoting the release of the 300 DVD in the form of a shield, like those in the film. Everyone was walking around with them, and even though it’s just a piece of cardboard, probably 2 feet in diameter, and could be easily recreated at home, I was just a tad bummed. Anywho, after waiting for an hour in the longest ass line of my life (distance-wise) just to get my tickets, which I pre-registered for, I finally made my way to yet another long line; Hall H. For those who are unfamiliar with Comic-Con (I don’t know who, because the 3 people who read this blog I’m sure have all been there) Hall H is the biggest exhibition hall with a 6,500 seating capacity. Luckily, I was able to get pretty close to the front for the Paramount Pictures panel. I also managed to see the Lost Season 4 panel later in the day. Here is a recap of who came and what I saw…

First up for the Paramount panel was Hot Rod, bringing star Andy Samberg (SNL) and his two writing partners (their website can be found here), including director of Hot Rod, Akiva Schaffer. When they came out they clearly did not know what to do, so they awkwardly rambled about things, which I found completely entertaining. They showed a hilarious clip of the movie. It just looks ridiculous, which of course means that I’ll be seeing it. Then there was a short Q&A and inevitably someone asked about the SNL digital shorts that the three of them make, such as “Lazy Sunday” and “D*** in a Box” (which, by the way, just got an Emmy nomination!). Then Andy kept saying dick, dick, dick and then fornicated with the microphone in front of him. It was amusing. And I have video footage of it, although you can’t really tell since I’m clearly inept when it comes to technology and I didn’t zoom in.

Then there was a panel about the new movies Stardust and The Spiderwick Chronicles, which are a bit more targeted at kids, and then a panel about Beowulf, which will be released in 3D and 2D, depending on your fancy. It looked good, but very strange as it’s working with the live-action CGI format. So it’s really good animation and the characters look almost exactly like the actors playing them, but yet it is obviously animated. I don’t know, it’s weird. Plus, Angelina Jolie plays Grendel’s mother, and practically appears naked (again, weird because it’s animated) which is not a surprise at all. I never remembered Grendel’s mother being described as “hot,” nor a human for that matter. I guess people (read: men) will take any chance they get to cast her in a movie where they can have an excuse to have her drop her drawers.

Judd Apatow and some guy who’s name I can’t remember introduced a preview (but not in person) for their new comedy Drillbit Taylor, starring Owen Wilson. It looks mildly entertaining (a bit more kid-like, thus a stray from raunchy adult themes such as Knocked Up), but the best part was Judd Apatow setting up the clip specifically for a Comic-Con audience by claiming the film takes place at a school of magic and Owen Wilson plays an evil-fighting ninja. I guess you needed to be there to actually get the joke.

There was a bit on the next Star Trek movie, announcing casting stuff, but I’m not a Trekkie (my loyalty rests with another franchise) and didn’t have much interest, even if Leonard Nimoy made a surprise visit.

Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man, came out to tell people to come to the actual panel on Saturday, but got everyone excited when he announced he would show a sneak peek of the movie anyway. So we got to see a rather long preview – and it looks like it won’t disappoint. Although I have to admit, I don’t know anything about Iron Man, superheroes, or comics in general.

JJ Abrams (creator of Lost and Alias) quickly came out to talk about his new, highly secretive movie coming out in January, currently known as “Cloverfield.” The trailer is out, and they showed it again here. He announced that Godzilla was certainly an influence on him, but claims that he feels “we” (I’m guessing America? Or maybe this generation? Not sure…) need a monster movie. That’s pretty much all he said, and then a teaser poster was revealed...which I caught on tape.

Via satellite, Steven Spielberg appeared live from the Indiana Jones 4 set, with, wait for it, Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, Karen Allen (who will reprise her role from Raiders), aaaaaand Harrison Ford. Although I wished he was there in person, I’m completely satisfied with seeing him in his uniform. It may seem creepy that I’m so in love with a 65 year old man, but come on, it’s Harrison Ford for crying out loud. Those who know me well know that he was basically my first ever crush on any human being.

Lastly, the Lost panel brought writers and producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse doing a mostly Q&A, which worked really well, and certainly was entertaining, as Damon stated that he feared there was a special someone out there who would just lash out at him and tell him how much he hated the show. Meanwhile, because of the intricacies of the show limited how much they could actually say, Damon and Carlton had a failsafe way of getting around this; each had a bell that they would ring if the other began giving too much away. You can imagine that the bell was ringing quite often. Some big announcements included the return of Michael (Harold Perrineau, who appeared in person) for Season 4 as a series regular, an eventual exploration into the backgrounds of Danielle Rousseau and Libby, and news that both flash-backs AND flash-forwards will be incorporated into the show. They also played an interesting clip of a Darma Initiative training video gone wrong – I’m still trying to figure that one out and what exactly it all means.

Hairspray

If you’re looking for toe-tapping fun, look no further. The whole movie is packed with catchy tunes, big ‘dos, contagious dance routines, and lots and lots of hairspray. Yes, it’s silly. Yes, it’s hokey. But it’s a musical, and you can’t go in expecting anything less! All of the stars are great in each role, as actors, singers, and dancers. Yep, even Christopher Walken sings and dances. John Travolta in drag is really incredible, and watching him sway around makes you realize just how much you’ve missed that side of him since Grease and Saturday Night Fever. Newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, the hefty heroine of the film, simply shines and is appropriately bubbly throughout. Side characters, like Amanda Bynes as Tracy’s go-to friend, and Zac Efron as the dreamy Link, are charmingly cute in their roles. Even John Waters, the creator/director of the original 1988 film, makes a cameo as the “flasher who lives next door.” The song “Without Love” has to be my favorite bit, as the teenage kids realize the power of love, while singing funny lines and Zac Efron doing a funny dance with a photo of Tracy on a bed (see video below). There’s singing and dancing of course, but Hairspray incorporates a bit more with the 60s era and issues of integration. It’s a fun time, but the kids are not only dancing for themselves but for the right for everyone to dance, together.

Directed by Adam Shankman
Runtime: 107 minutes

Sicko

I’m not an expert on health insurance. All I really know is that I have it. But watching Michael Moore’s Sicko made me realize how much of a privilege that is. He surely presents some preposterous accounts of US citizens dealing with unbelievable health insurance stories, such as one man, who sawed off the tips of two fingers, who was given a choice to spend either $60,000 to sew back on the middle finger, or $12,000 for the other. I’m sure you can guess that he picked the latter, as his insurance wouldn’t cover it. It’s really an interesting film to watch, but of course Moore only focuses on the bad side of American health insurance, and focuses only on the good side of free health care in England, Canada, France, and Cuba. But nonetheless, he puts forth a topic that should be discussed, and with humorous dialogue and conversations, which is why can there be such good coverage in these other parts of the world, but a country which promotes democracy and equality can’t even provide equality for the most basic, pertinent factor in each person’s life – their health? I find it mind boggling that people have to pay for something they usually can’t help happen, like a car accident or a stroke. And then, to consider that some people get denied the right to even have health insurance is ridiculous. How could a doctor legitimately ignore a person in pain, simply because they don’t have health coverage? Unfortunately, as in Sicko, there are incidents where doctors earn money for denying patients. It is completely unethical and repulsive. The film doesn’t provide suggestions on how to fix such a problem, because, let’s be honest, the U.S. is a huge country with lots of people and it’d be too difficult to make radical changes. But at least it provokes an important discussion on something that is significant to all of us.

Directed by Michael Moore
Runtime: 113 minutes

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Seeing a midnight screening of a movie like Harry Potter can make all the difference in terms of reception. I’ve seen OofP twice now, with completely different settings, which made me watch it in two separate ways. First, at the midnight screening, like any of these, there are excited fans all around, making for an unforgettable movie experience. Just like the midnight shows of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, everyone was cheering at the same time, laughing out really loud, and even laughing at parts that shouldn’t be funny, but are because all us fans get the inside joke. That is why I love going to these things – everyone is involved and there for the same reason; complete love and devotion to a particular series. The second time I saw it was with my mom, in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, with some other families. Beyond the guy down the row who’s cell phone rang, and actually picked up and answered, it was a very quiet audience who did not seem to pick up on any of the humor. The silence let me watch the movie more closely, pick up lines I had missed, and realize how (mostly) solid it was.
Now that I’ve gone slightly off track, let me get more to the point. So the movie starts, in what appears to be Kansas with strange vibes of Signs. I seriously was expecting an alien to pop out of that field. The opening bit was not at all how I had imagined it would be, but at least Dudley and his bully friends looked completely ridiculous in their wannabe gangsta attire. The crowd loved that, or at least found it amusing. Overall, I thought the movie was wonderful. I felt director David Yates did a really good job of pacing the film and having a good balance of light and dark content. Although there was so much to cover (OftP is the longest book of the series), and obviously things had to be cut out, such as Ron playing Quidditch, Yates at least tried to cover missing pieces by inserting storylines through the Daily Prophet segues and other well edited montages. My particular favorite parts were Professor Umbridge (I loved it when Kyle H., sitting next to me, muttered “Bitch” under his breath when she first appeared on screen, with the rest of the audience making similar snide remarks), Dumbledore’s Army, and Filch trying to catch the meddling witches and wizards. I also felt that the main three actors (Daniel, Rupert, and Emma) totally brought their A-game, especially Daniel Radcliffe. You could actually tell that he has matured so much as an actor (must be those nude scenes in Equus) and I thought he did an amazing job as this time around felt more like a challenge as he had to channel Voldemort much much more than in the others. I also thought it was well done with all of the flashback scenes, which helped convey Harry’s angst. Now, the much anticipated kiss scene was what it was – awkward. The growing mistletoe was overkill, as well as zooming around in a circle. But then it was directly followed by a great moment, as the three discussed the “wet” kiss. My main complaints is that one, it could’ve been longer, and two, the actual Order of the Phoenix were hardly present or explained. It surely helped to have read the book, as some things were quickly looked at. I haven’t quite decided, but I think this could be my favorite of the HP movies. It definitely passes the OWLs in my book.

Directed by David Yates
Runtime: 138 minutes

What I'm Loving Right Now

Shia LaBeouf
He was so cute and funny in Even Stevens and has made some good sidekick characters, such as in Constantine, but this year is the year of the Shia. Although I didn’t see Disturbia or Surf’s Up, I did see a little film called Transformers. His role just goes to show his future potential as an action star, a comedian, and maybe even a ladies man, just like his screenname in the movie suggests. And after seeing him in Transformers, I feel good about Steven Spielberg’s decision to cast him in Indiana Jones 4, presumably as Indy’s son (don’t even get me started as to how excited I am for that movie!). I also saw Shia on David Letterman a few weeks ago, and boy, he is one sharp cookie. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Shia on Letterman

Shia, very young, on Freaks & Geeks


Flight of the Conchords
It’s both a band and a tv show, brought to you by Bret and Jemaine from New Zealand. The show is funky, but hilarious. Their lyrics are ridiculous, but awesome. If you don’t have HBO, you can find the three episodes on YouTube, along with clips of live performances.


Bear Grylls
If you have not seen the godliness that is Bear Grylls, you need to get on it ASAP. He is unreal. Beyond hoping that he’ll have to strip down to his skivvies every episode based on some survival tactic, each week Bear drops himself into crazy locations where a tourist might find themselves lost. After shimmying up trees, climbing up completely vertical cliffs, and running across fields of lava where his shoes catch fire, he usually takes a break to eat something, which he always claims is “full in protein,” therefore he has to eat it. Like dead zebra, a sheep’s eyeball, or elephant dung. But the best is when he eats something that is alive as it goes down – scorpions, fish, snakes, frogs, and maggots – and then gives a great line about what it tastes like. Pure entertainment gold!


Michael Cera
I will forever love Michael Cera, simply for the fact that he was George Michael on possibly one of the greatest television shows ever made (and then brutally canceled!). Now, however, he is busy making short webisodes with his friend Clark Duncan. The show is simply called “Clark and Michael.” It’s a silly show, as the friends want to get their movie script made into a movie. There are some great cameos by other Arrested Development alumni, including it’s creator Mitchell Hurwitz, and comedians like Patton Oswalt. It’s just a funny show, sometimes with Cera and Duncan having attitude problems, and besides, you get a chance to see the presumably innocent Michael Cera say, “ They brushed our teeth with their d***s. Their d***s!”
Here is their website

Transformers

I’m gonna have to admit, I loved this movie. It completely delivered – and then some. I myself am caught off guard by this reaction, seeing that I had absolutely no expectations going in, or really any idea of what this whole Transformers thing is all about. I never watched the old TV show (I was busy watching something along the lines of The Muppet Babies and Rainbow Brite), which I can number down to two reasons why: its target audience was/is young boys (of which I was/am not) and because I had an older sister, which meant that I watched what she watched (Again, My Little Pony, Popples, etc.).

So, with having no bias, and the lack of being able to criticize the film based on inaccuracies of the Autobots and what not, I pretty much sat down at the theater with a John Locke mindset – that is, with a blank slate, ready for whatever might come my way.

What I enjoy most about the film is that it is legitimately funny – the film knows this, and runs with it. Shia LaBeouf has perfect comedic timing and great delivery. I loved the rapport between his character, Sam, and his parents, making for some entertaining dialogue, like when his dad asks, “Why are you so dirty and sweaty?” Sam obviously replies, “I’m a child – I’m a teenager!”

The film is also very heavy on the action scenes, but nothing too gruesome or dreadful happens, which keeps it good for the youngsters. Also, an eclectic group of characters, including an uber-smart Australian chick(what does she do, exactly? Can someone please tell me? In heels, no less…), a military squad, and even the Secretary of Defense, keeps things interesting. But once again, I have to say that LaBeouf steals the show (human-wise), with his smart, quasi-geeky persona, who makes quick, witty responses to everything thrown his way. Oh, and extra brownie points to the wardrobe consultant who put him in a Strokes t-shirt (!) for a good portion of the movie.

The special effects are ridiculous, considering the mind-boggling detail that went into every scene where the Autobots transform. It would have been interesting to know more about each ‘alien robot’ in more detail, as the film talked very quickly about their history and why exactly they were on Earth to begin with – but I suppose this is where watching the show comes in handy.

Overall, I was very pleased with this movie experience. Not only were there great pop culture references (The 40 Year Old Virgin!) and thankfully not an overbearing love story (that seatbelt line WAS really smooth, though), but Transformers kicks some major Decepticon ass. I also think the movie worked well by not having any super famous actors involved. It was fresh, and it was fun. And clearly I am not alone, as the whole audience was really getting into it. The couple next to me really loved the “Satan’s Camaro” line. Seriously, they could not get over it. But then again, part of my likeness of the film is based on a character wearing a shirt of my favorite band. So I guess I do have some biases after all.

Directed by Micahel Bay
Runtime: 144 minutes

Ratatouille

It’s plain and simple – Pixar is king. I don’t think it’s humanly possible for Pixar to ever make a bad movie. I am glad, however, that it’s back to telling stories involving animals. I love when they explore a completely made-up world of something you wouldn’t immediately suspect to be movie material: bugs, monsters, and now rats. Ratatouille is, like past Pixar productions, a creative, classy, and cute production. Not to mention completely appetizing as Remy the rat aspires to be a chef in Paris. Seriously, the food in this film looked delicious, which just goes to show the incredible detail that the filmmakers pay attention to. Now, on a side note, the only actors I knew who provided voices were Patton Oswalt, Brad Garrett, and John Ratzenberger. Something I like to do with voiceover work, though, is try to guess who is providing the voice. It’s just a fun little game I like to play with…myself. I totally called it that Will Arnet and Peter O’Toole provided two voices. This made me so proud when I checked it on IMDB, you cannot believe! But I did not expect, however, that Janeane Garofalo of all people voiced the female chef. But still, I’m glad my useless talent of recognizing famous people’s voices could be put to the test – and challenged.

Directed by Brad Bird
Runtime: 110 minutes

Once

If there is one movie you see this summer, make it Once. It is absolutely spellbinding. I can’t stress enough how beautiful it is. I suppose you can call it a modern-day musical, as it showcases a string of terrifically written songs by an Irish street performer in Dublin and his new Czech female friend, who yearns to play the piano. They make music together, they bond, and they possibly fall in love, although neither one of them can come clean and say it – just like real life. The emotions are raw, real, and completely heartfelt. It’s sweet, short, and simply amazing. The guy, played by Glen Hansard, comes from the Irish band The Frames and the girl, Marketa Irglova, is a singer from the Czech Republic. So really, it’s almost the real-life story of the two, with some minor changes. Please, I beg of you, if Once is playing nearby, go see it! Unless you have no soul, or can’t appreciate independent filmmaking, then I promise you will like, if not love, this film. FYI – sometimes you have to pay close attention, as thick Irish and Czech accents can be a bit tricky to decipher. Luckily this doesn’t get in the way of their singing.

Directed by John Carney
Runtime: 85 minutes

Paris, je t'aime

The best thing about Paris, je t’aime is that it’s made up of 18 separate stories, each made by different directors. Because of this factor, each short film is completely unrelated to the other, with the exception that everyone's in Paris. Most are love stories, but not the typical kind. Some deal with the lack of love, the loss of love, young love, old love, even love among vampires. Who knew Paris could even make blood-sucking creatures fall in love? Several directors are French, but there is a very strong international and diverse collection of filmmakers. Alfonso Cuaron, the Coen Brothers, Alexander Payne, Wes Craven, and Gerard Depardieu are a few that surprised me. My particular favorite story was the last bit, directed by Alexander Payne, about an American tourist in Paris, speaking elementary French. It is absolutely sweet and inspired, and the character captures a certain melancholic charm.

Runtime: 120 minutes

License to Wed

You know, I’m not even going to bother by going into much detail. Although the charming John Krasinski of The Office is in it, along with three other Dunder Mifflin employees making brief appearances, this movie is just not good. Robin Williams has a few funny lines, but that’s simply because he’s Robin Williams. There’s no depth to the characters, it has a super cheesy ending, and those stupid robot babies are…stupid. I didn’t have high expectations for it at all, but it’s always disappointing, sometimes painful, to watch actors/people you really like (Krasinski) pick a bad project. And it hurts even more to know that director Ken Kwapis has directed great, amazing projects such as episodes of The Office and, yes, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Directed by Ken Kwapis
Runtime: 90 minutes

Ocean's Thirteen

“Are you in yet?”
“I hate that question.”

Hands down, the best part of this movie was the strike that Casey Affleck and Scott Caan’s characters started and supported in the Mexican dice-making factory. Actually, the best part was anytime Casey Affleck spoke Spanish; “Peligroso es mi nombre medio.”
Now that that’s out of the way, Ocean’s Thirteen was still a solid, charming heist movie. There’s just something about the Ocean’s movies that’s always intriguing (aside from Matt Damon, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt) – the overall look, the spunky soundtrack, the distinct Old Hollywood humor, and all the first-class jet setting antics. Thirteen is back in Vegas and it is completely enjoyable to try to piece the puzzle together of what exactly they’re doing as the gang plans to rip off casino tycoon Al Pacino. But I thought is was Pacino’s assistant, played by Ellen Barkin, who was particularly interesting to watch. And I loved how Matt Damon got to play a more important role in the actual heist. It’s the interaction between the characters, and their dry humor, which I believe makes these movies work so well. Every single part of the thirteen is absolutely necessary – even the French guy from the second film, who I was completely disappointed with when he didn’t breakdance on the roof of the casino. But I suppose his motley mosaic-inspired jumpsuit made up for it.

Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Runtime: 122 minutes

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

I’ve waited too long to write about this to fully remember why I didn’t like it very much. But I do know that there was too much going on, and there was just wayyy too much time devoted to telling a story that kept going in circles. Now, I’ve sat through long movies in theaters (LOTR) and at home (Schindler’s List, Gone with the Wind), some clocking in at nearly 4 hours. Pirates 3, which is under three, felt like the longest movie of my life, with the minor exception of The Good Shepherd. It just went on and on, and I’m not even sure that I really understood what was going on half, even two-thirds of the time. Jack Sparrow went crazy (Like, a lot crazy. Did anyone else find those angel/devil hallucinations irritating?), Will Turner was ogling at Elizabeth (What’s new?), and the latter kicked some butt with a perfectly clean face throughout the whole film. And the two got married, which was obviously going to happen since Disney gave it away in the previews. Don’t get me wrong, all three Pirates movies have been entertaining (particularly the first), but this last one was just mildly so. It’s a bit frustrating to see sincerely loved franchises take second place to the fact that there’s money to be made, thus the “get the movies made ASAP” mentality – sacrificing the creative process, which should be handled with much more care. Also, this last (?) movie in the trilogy (?) seemed a bit more raunchy – a.k.a. the sensual scene between Will and Elizabeth on the beach where it was pretty clear that she, ummm...well, you know. I loved how the Disney version of that was her smiling, with the wind blowing in her face. Can you say awkward?? Hell, if you’re gonna go there, you should GO THERE. Disney, you’re such a tease…

Directed by Gore Verbinski
Runtime: 168 minutes

Knocked Up

(The following is an unedited version of my review for The Aggie)

Usually a one-night stand is just that – one night. But when there’s a call eight weeks later by the girl, saying she’s pregnant, things are unexpectedly thrown off track for the lives of both partners. Such is the premise of the extremely funny, yet endearing comedy Knocked Up.

From the writer and director of The 40 Year Old Virgin (Judd Apatow), comes another very R-rated romp about relationships and all of the little quirks in between. With a stellar cast of mostly familiar faces from other Apatow productions like Virgin and shows “Freaks and Geeks” and “Undeclared,” the movie has great chemistry among the characters attached to both the male and female sides of this now forever changed couple.

The incomparable Seth Rogen, plays Ben Stone, a pothead with a life-plan of setting up an adult-themed website with his also stoner roommates. Meanwhile, Alison Scott, played by “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Katherine Heigl, is a stunning up and coming news correspondent for a television network, just landing a big promotion.

Then the two cross paths and bam – pregnant. The story develops as the two decide to proceed with the pregnancy, regardless of their differences and Alison’s initial lack of attraction toward Ben. So they get to know each other, as well as Ben’s friends and Alison’s sister and brother-in-law, who’s own instable marriage acts as the only immediate example of a relationship.

What is great about Apatow’s writing and directing is that most scenes feel very authentic and relatable with conservations involving numerous pop culture references said by the colorful characters. The dialogue between Ben and his friends are particularly candid, thus unforgettable with some of the best lines of the entire film.

Although there is a large focus on Ben’s development from loser status to a somewhat presentable person ready for parenthood, the film could have given more attention to Alison. Her character is clearly seen as more professional and responsible than Ben, but she isn’t given a solid foundation and seems slightly one-dimensional. The film also jumps quickly into the “in love” phase between Ben and Alison, without plainly showing why their feelings have suddenly changed.

The viewer might laugh at these characters and some of their wild shenanigans, but there is always a likeability factor that makes the audience root for every one of them. Up is both a strikingly sweet and crude film about the importance of making compromises and accepting the unexpected, whether through laughter, tears or, as Ben often prefers, a bong.

Waitress

(The following is an unedited version of my review for The Aggie)

Watching Waitress is just like eating a warm, sweet slice of pie. It’s satisfying and fulfilling, but it leaves one wanting just a bit more. Although the film centers on Jenna, a waitress in a small town southern diner, the collection of eccentric pies that she craftily bakes are also central pieces to the story.

Waitress celebrates the empowerment that one young woman finds through both her baked goods and her unborn baby. Keri Russell, best known for her curly-haired persona on the series “Felicity,” evolves from her college character and blossoms into a talented baker who lives with a good-for-nothing husband and begins having an affair with her doctor, after learning that she has her very own bun in the oven.

Russell is charming as ever as Jenna, in which the southern twang of her voice adds to the sweetness of her character, who is a politely outspoken and independent dreamer, but not when it comes to her demanding and pathetic husband. Russell easily captures the conflicting emotions that Jenna feels as she wants to leave her husband and as she falls for her new doctor, as it can easily be seen on her face with the slightest change of expression.

Throughout the film, Jenna’s emotions are narrated into recipes for pies that reflect her ever-changing moods between her lousy marriage and hopeful affair. She titles one such pie, “Pregnant Miserable Self Pitying Loser Pie,” as she remains rather unenthused about her pregnancy. She also talks in voiceovers to her unborn child, with both resentment at the troubles it is bringing to her life and with utter joy as to the changes it could possibly cause.

With the use of narration and tableau-like shots, which highlight particular scenes to more closely observe the characters’ settings, an element of hyperbole exists to enrich what could be a simple story of a good girl in a bad situation. Although Jenna’s husband’s antics and requests are appalling and slightly overdone, it makes for a more heartbreaking position for Jenna to be in, as she submits her own wants to his needs.

Late director, writer and co-star, Adrienne Shelly, presents a unique story, focusing on Jenna and the other two waitresses at the diner. They all live in a dead-end world with little opportunity, yet each remain hopeful for either better things to come or purely the little pleasures in life. The other two waitresses, played by Shelly and Cheryl Hines, are quirky, enthusiastic coworkers and friends to Jenna, with problems of their own. The three are an uplifting trio for each other as they face series of unhappiness while managing to serve customers with big, sparkling white smiles.

Like many romantic comedies, certain aspects of the story are nicely concluded, but it is no fairy tale. Having amusing characters, such as the diner’s owner, played by Andy Griffith, a glowing performance by Russell and a poignant story by Shelly, the film is a therapeutic, feel-good story in the same way that Jenna takes solace in her baked remedies. With the right balance of comedy and drama, Waitress is also served as a pie should be – neither too hot nor too cold, but just right.