Funny People

     Last night, sick as one could humanly be, I decided to let HBO guide my movie watching. I just so happened to come upon the movie Funny People, starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen. I must be honest up front with this, even though they can be funny at times, I am not really a big fan of either.

     Andam Sandler tends to spend most of his movies yelling at the camera, and making ridiculous voices, and when it comes to Seth Rogen, I fail to see his mainstream appeal.  That being said, I did enjoy each of their performances in this movie.

     From the promotional material put out about this movie I expected a "this is how a struggling comedian makes it in the industry" kind of film. However, we are given the story of a wildly successful comedian, that has been given the news that he is very sick, and likely does not have long to live. This opens his eyes to what his life really is, beyond all the success. Having no true friends in this world, he takes a rather new and green (for lack of a better word) performer (played by Rogen) under his wing as his opening act, to try and cultivate one real friendship, before he dies.

     There are multiple stand up comedy breaks in the movie, with material by many, many comics from lesser knowns, recently popular, and a ton of cameos from actors, comic legends, as well as an appearance by rapper Eminiem, that was one of my absolute favorite scenes in the movie.

     I can say that I am truly glad to have watched this movie. Even if being sick was the only reason I did. I will be sitting down with my wife to watch it again, I think she will enjoy it also.

                       

An Oldie But A Goldie

     Today I take you back a bit. To a time when hair reigned supreme. A time when men were men, women were women, and Metal ruled.

     Rob Riener's epic mocumentary This Is Spinal Tap, introduces us to a heavy metal band (Spinal Tap), and takes us on a wild ride of everything metal.
      Rob Reiner himself stars as a film maker, following what used to be England's biggest and loudest rock band, now almost forgotten, embarking on a return tour in the United States. The bands three core members, Derek Smalls, Nigel Tunnel and David St.Hubbins (pictured left to right played by...respectively) introduce us to what a rockers life is all about.

     Everything you could possibly think a half insane rocker would do, these guys do to 11, even their guitar amps  go to 11, where lesser rockers only go to 10.

     With their legendary antics, rocking music, and outlandish persona's, Spinal Tap is the very definition of rock.
     Easily one of my favorite movies, in 2002, it was inducted into the Library of Congress to be preserved as having major artistic and cultural significance, and listed on the United States National Film Registry.

An Interesting Feel

Today I take a look at a uniquely put together animated film entitled Iron Man Extremis.

This time around, we find our hero Tony Stark, head of Stark enterprises, facing of as Iron Man, against an evil villain named Malus, who has been given a highly experimental drug, known as Extremis.

 This drug transforms Malus into a being with untold power, possibly enough to defeat even the mighty Iron Man. With the very fate of our country at stake, how will Iron Man delete Malus? Also, is there more behind the release of this high powered terrorist than Tony Stark knows?

Billed as motion comic, this series brings a unique feel to animation. The look is almost as if someone brought the panels of a comic book to life, without pushing it as far as flat out making it a cartoon.  I really enjoyed this aspect. Story wise, I felt that was a little something to be desired  but overall it was quite enjoyable, really giving you the feeling as though you were somehow reading the comic at the same time as watching the series. Worth a look, I give it a 7 out of 10.

And The Mystery Deepens

     As a Beatles fan, I decided to check out the documentary, Paul McCartney Really Is Dead The Last Testament of George Harrison. For lack of better words, my mind was blown. Based around one of musics biggest legends, and the rumor that surrounded them.

     The story goes as listed on official website for the movie found here.

In the summer of 2005, a package arrived at the Hollywood offices of Highway 61  Entertainment from London with no return address. Inside were two mini-cassette audio tapes dated December 30, 1999 and labeled  The Last Testament of George Harrison. A voice eerily similar to Harrison's tells a shocking story: Paul McCartney was killed  in a car crash in November of 1966 and replaced with a double! British intelligence, MI5, had forced the Beatles to cover up McCartney's death to prevent mass suicides of Beatle fans. However, the remaining Beatles tried to signal fans  with clues on album covers and in songs.      The movie is completely narrated from the tapes, and it brings an almost eerie feeling,  and has the ability to really make question what you think you may know about what  may be the biggest band in history.

Black Dynamite

     Keeping on my parody/ comedy kick, I decided to check out the movie Black Dynamite, and i have never been this at a loss for words to describe a movie.

     What I can say is, ther was a lot of good and a LOT of bad to this movie. But from this point we will go with the basics.

     Adirect homage to movies such as Cleopatra Jones, The Legend Of Dolamite, and many others, Black Dynamite is the brotha among brothas. Every woman wants him, every man wants to be him. A retired millitary expert and former C.I.A. agent, Black Dynamite is a one man army determined to protect his community & clean up the streets.

     With layer upon layer of stereotypical 1970's and a film style that pulls off the feel of a old film, it gives you the feeling that you are inside an old drive in. But in my opinion, this is where it also fails.

      Most of the jokes in the movie are very predictable, except for the majopr plot twist, and the movie rely very heavily on bad cliche for most of the humor.

      The best part of the movie though, comes from the feel of the film. Truthfully, the feel of the old drive in is so real with this movie, that you can almost smell the popcorn. Also the grouping of well known African American actors was amazing. All roles were played to their fullest, but there was a lot left to be desired. Still worth a watch though.

A Guest Writer

 Today I am having a guest write a review for everyone, my 10 year old daughter. Hope you enjoy.

The Swan Princess  

Most girls like me would like this movie. This movie had adventure in it. Prince Derek has to save Princess Odette from a evil guy who has magic powers.

The movie was also about Princess Odette and Prince Derek starting to like each other. I thought this movie was neat, colorful, and adventuress. Kids should watch this movie, because this movie has a queen, a king, a prince, and princesses.  

A Day For Older (but not old) Comedy

     I decided today to watch a older movie that I enjoyed when I was a little bit younger. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, starring Keenan Ivory Wayans As Jack Spade, could be classified as a parody of the 1960's and 1970's exploitation films such as Super Fly, Cleopatra Jones, Shaft, and many others.

     With appearances by many famous faces, including music legend Isaac Hayes, famous American football player Jim Brown, and one of the first movie appearances of Chris Rock. in one of the funnies scenes in the movie

     The story of this movie has our hero, Jack Spade, returning home from a 10 year stint in the army, to find his brother had been murdered by gangsters (or gangstas if you will), after racking up a huge debt following his "gold fever"-an obsessive love of gold jewelry that has drivin him to do anything to aquire more gold chains.
      During his investigation into his brothers death, Spade uncovers an evil orginization, headed by Mr. Big, the leader of all organized crime. Discovering his new purpose in life, Jack must topple mr bigs orginization to save not only his town, but the love of his life.
     This is a wonderful movie for a ton of cheap laughs, and a great way to waste a little time in the evening.