Think of it as Hangover 2 for kids. I don’t mean you have transvestites and bad culture references, but it is like the original, only bigger, yet not as good.
Gone is the story of Lightning McQueen who is humbled by a small lost American village. Instead the main focus is on the rather annoying secondary character, Tow Mater. The first movie followed the change of McQueen; here we see how Mater’s not actually an idiotic rusty Chevy.
As with all good sequel, there are more guns, more explosions, and more characters. The story has all the elements of the recent Bond movie, Quantum of Solace (Italy, explosions, guns, the environment and a sort of romance), yet is adapted for car enthusiasts and children. Many people (over-protective parents?) have criticised Cars 2 for being too scary and violent compared to old Pixar movies. Really? Have they seen the original Toy Story????? I still get nightmares from the creepy crab-like mutant doll! And if you count Disney as well, who can forget The Lion King? The uncle killing the father in front of the sun? If that is not cruel and twisted, what is?
Back to Cars 2, though. I am a HUGE fan of the original. I love cars, and I love Pixar, so a movie bringing the two elements together was always going to be in my top ten. Even though the sequel is not as good, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. As a car fan, it is pure heaven. The amount of details given to the car world, and the car-geek references had me loving every moment of it! (“A Pacer! I haven’t seen one of those in years!”) The amount of detail put into designing this car world is simply stunning. You can see that this movie was made by genuine car enthusiasts.
Regarding the plot itself, it is a bit basic, and indeed is maybe not as good as some of Pixar’s earlier work. Tow Mater is confused for a secret agent, and joins an attempt to save the world from a bunch of car lemons (ie badly made cars no one cares about) who want to destroy the success of bio ethanol fuels. Basic you see? And in the background, McQueen joins in a world Grand Prix.
If you do not like cars, I can totally understand why you would not like it. That does not mean you are right though.
For me, I loved it, and if like me you enjoy both cars and Pixar, go see it!
4/5
Loved: Car World, Good Entertainment, Visually Impressive, Pretty Funny
Hated: Plot is not that good. Soundtrack either.
dimanche 24 juillet 2011
Horrible Bosses (2011)
We’ve all been there. You are trying to work hard, earning an honest living, and one element makes your life at work hell: your Boss. You then keep imagining how better you life would be without your boss.
This is the basic concept of Horrible Bosses. We follow three friends who have some of the worst bosses around: Kevin Spacey, Collin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston. One is a power-crazy tyrant, the other is a doped-up douche bag, and the last is a nymphomaniac. (exactly how the last one works, I still do not get it)
After pushing our friends to the limit, they decide to try and get rid of their bosses. Hilarity then ensures as things don’t exactly go to plan. On the face of it a very basic plot, but wait, there is an interesting twist! The outcome is to be expected as this is still a good ol’ buddy movie, but just how it is reached is not exactly what you’d think. In a way, the three protagonists’ stupidity helped them out (and one guardian angel, but that’s giving too much away)
This is a very good movie, though not Laugh Out Loud funny as say Hangover was (another bro-threesome-romance movie, by the way). Every single character is funny in their own way (except maybe PJ Byrne’s character who is more annoying than amusing, but we can attribute that to Byrne himself). Some of the actors play outside their comfort zone and are pretty good at it (trust me, you won’t watch Friends or In Bruges the same way ever again!).
On the comedy side, there is nothing new here. Seth Gordon seemed to have stuck to the motto, “If it works, why change it?” A lot of the jokes are fairly obvious, but still very enjoyable, and almost all are attributed to the characters’ stupidity (“Open the door! -Okay, how’s my hair?”)
So on the face of it, a very amusing movie, however, don’t go expecting anything new here. Horrible Bosses seems to use all the usual jokes, with a new plot. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, just Business as Usual.
3.5/5
Loved: Actors’ roles, humour, new story
Hated: Nothing new on the comedy side
This is the basic concept of Horrible Bosses. We follow three friends who have some of the worst bosses around: Kevin Spacey, Collin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston. One is a power-crazy tyrant, the other is a doped-up douche bag, and the last is a nymphomaniac. (exactly how the last one works, I still do not get it)
After pushing our friends to the limit, they decide to try and get rid of their bosses. Hilarity then ensures as things don’t exactly go to plan. On the face of it a very basic plot, but wait, there is an interesting twist! The outcome is to be expected as this is still a good ol’ buddy movie, but just how it is reached is not exactly what you’d think. In a way, the three protagonists’ stupidity helped them out (and one guardian angel, but that’s giving too much away)
This is a very good movie, though not Laugh Out Loud funny as say Hangover was (another bro-threesome-romance movie, by the way). Every single character is funny in their own way (except maybe PJ Byrne’s character who is more annoying than amusing, but we can attribute that to Byrne himself). Some of the actors play outside their comfort zone and are pretty good at it (trust me, you won’t watch Friends or In Bruges the same way ever again!).
On the comedy side, there is nothing new here. Seth Gordon seemed to have stuck to the motto, “If it works, why change it?” A lot of the jokes are fairly obvious, but still very enjoyable, and almost all are attributed to the characters’ stupidity (“Open the door! -Okay, how’s my hair?”)
So on the face of it, a very amusing movie, however, don’t go expecting anything new here. Horrible Bosses seems to use all the usual jokes, with a new plot. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, just Business as Usual.
3.5/5
Loved: Actors’ roles, humour, new story
Hated: Nothing new on the comedy side
Transformers 3 (2011)
Let me put things into context: Transformers 1 was awesome. Then there was Transformers 2, seemingly with the idea that “more is more”. Everything was bigger and better. As a result, it was not so good. Enjoyable? Yes. Memorable? Not at all.
Now we have Transformers 3, and as expected, Micheal Bay did just what we expected him to do: Take Transformers 2 and turn the dial up a notch.
So what does this give us?
Well, an alternate reality where the Space Race was in response to aliens landing on the moon, Chernobyl being caused by aliens, bigger robots, bigger explosions, the destruction of Chicago, another near-end of the world, and an even bigger bimbo than Megan Fox.
The story is what you’d expect from a Transformers movie. Once again, a very important detail is brought to light that could change the world forever. The villain gets even bigger and more powerful. All seems lost; everyone wants to abandon the fight, until Shia Lebeouf comes along and saves the day.
It’s all very impressive and entertaining, but in a way disappointing. I guess there is not much else to do with the Transformers franchise, apart from turning everything up a notch and create a sense of awe among the audience.
It’s okay in the early cinematic experience sort of way (where movies were seen as an entertainment like a day out at the fair), but even to an action-movie fan such as myself, it does get a bit tiring.
For one thing, Micheal Bay’s past as a Playboy movie director is clearly visible here when he films the new heroin. I can almost understand why Megan Fox left! After that, the product placement is getting a bit out of hand also. Yes, a Ferrari 458 robot is fun. Giving him an Italian accent and calling him Dino is a bit too much. The cameos are okay but a bit too obvious. Shia Lebeouf even manages to get more annoying! I thought it was not possible, but he has surpassed himself! And finally, a bit more reality would not hurt. (I had no idea Navy Seals could climb 40 flights of stairs in 10 seconds! Or say, a collapsing building manages to comically fall on another one and stay there…)
I truly believe that each new Transformers is more like a parody of the previous one.
On the positive side, it is visually impressive, and the attention to detail is stunning. I guess it is exactly like the first movies: A way to try and impress to cinema-goer, nothing else.
Watch it once for fun, but I cannot really see why someone would want to watch it twice, unless you went out for an urgent dinner half-way through (it is a very long movie)…
2.5/5
Loved: Stunning visuals, alternate reality story is interesting I guess?
Hated: Pretty much all the rest
Now we have Transformers 3, and as expected, Micheal Bay did just what we expected him to do: Take Transformers 2 and turn the dial up a notch.
So what does this give us?
Well, an alternate reality where the Space Race was in response to aliens landing on the moon, Chernobyl being caused by aliens, bigger robots, bigger explosions, the destruction of Chicago, another near-end of the world, and an even bigger bimbo than Megan Fox.
The story is what you’d expect from a Transformers movie. Once again, a very important detail is brought to light that could change the world forever. The villain gets even bigger and more powerful. All seems lost; everyone wants to abandon the fight, until Shia Lebeouf comes along and saves the day.
It’s all very impressive and entertaining, but in a way disappointing. I guess there is not much else to do with the Transformers franchise, apart from turning everything up a notch and create a sense of awe among the audience.
It’s okay in the early cinematic experience sort of way (where movies were seen as an entertainment like a day out at the fair), but even to an action-movie fan such as myself, it does get a bit tiring.
For one thing, Micheal Bay’s past as a Playboy movie director is clearly visible here when he films the new heroin. I can almost understand why Megan Fox left! After that, the product placement is getting a bit out of hand also. Yes, a Ferrari 458 robot is fun. Giving him an Italian accent and calling him Dino is a bit too much. The cameos are okay but a bit too obvious. Shia Lebeouf even manages to get more annoying! I thought it was not possible, but he has surpassed himself! And finally, a bit more reality would not hurt. (I had no idea Navy Seals could climb 40 flights of stairs in 10 seconds! Or say, a collapsing building manages to comically fall on another one and stay there…)
I truly believe that each new Transformers is more like a parody of the previous one.
On the positive side, it is visually impressive, and the attention to detail is stunning. I guess it is exactly like the first movies: A way to try and impress to cinema-goer, nothing else.
Watch it once for fun, but I cannot really see why someone would want to watch it twice, unless you went out for an urgent dinner half-way through (it is a very long movie)…
2.5/5
Loved: Stunning visuals, alternate reality story is interesting I guess?
Hated: Pretty much all the rest
Green Lantern (2011)
Now this is a hard one. I was really looking forward to it. The previews seemed amazing, after all. I then went and saw it, and kept feeling disappointed.
We follow arrogant jet-fighter pilot Ryan Reynolds as he is given the gift of the Green Lantern by a dying alien. This gift allows him to use this superpower to create anything he wants with his mind. Cue lots of training in a far away world, a scared Reynolds who decides he can’t do it, an angry alien that wants to destroy the world, and a sudden change of heart from our hero, who suddenly becomes one of the most powerful Green Lanterns around.
Call me a cynic, but somehow Reynolds’ sudden change of heart is one of the reasons I left the cinema disappointed. Maybe it’s the DC way and I’m too used to Marvel, but it felt a bit too sudden. The guy goes from cocky pilot, who’s scared of his duty to typical loveable superhero, ready to save the day, almost instantaneously. It’s a bit too perfect to be true, and in a way brings the whole story down in my mind. Oh and the whole dead-dad flashback felt a bit too Top Gun, and added to the whole too-moveish atmosphere of Green Lantern. It would have worked in the ‘90s, but today, movies need to be realistic, even if they are about superheroes. (Why does Batman work and Superman doesn’t, for example?)
Another disappointment was the visuals. Again, maybe I am too used to Marvel’s work, but it felt a bit “early 2000” if you see where I’m going. Blame was given by the director on the 3D technique used, which involves filming in 2D, then artificially creating the 3D effect in editing. I can believe that. The alien world and people lacked detail, it felt too smooth.
Finally, the last thing that killed to movie for me was Ryan Reynolds. He can go up there with Shia Lebeouf as my top ten most annoying people who can ruin a movie. He is just too smug and cocky to be believable. It is a thin line I guess for an actor to capture that comic-book cockiness, but if achieved it is great, look at Downey Jr’s Tony Stark for example.
Maybe I’m being too analytical, but maybe some superheroes cannot work in the 21st century. Superman will never work, and I fear Green Lantern is another one. Maybe the second instalment will prove me wrong, I do hope so.
2.5/5
Loved: Still relatively enjoyable, though a lot more work has to be done!
Hated: Reynolds, pre-dual core visuals, too comic-book story
We follow arrogant jet-fighter pilot Ryan Reynolds as he is given the gift of the Green Lantern by a dying alien. This gift allows him to use this superpower to create anything he wants with his mind. Cue lots of training in a far away world, a scared Reynolds who decides he can’t do it, an angry alien that wants to destroy the world, and a sudden change of heart from our hero, who suddenly becomes one of the most powerful Green Lanterns around.
Call me a cynic, but somehow Reynolds’ sudden change of heart is one of the reasons I left the cinema disappointed. Maybe it’s the DC way and I’m too used to Marvel, but it felt a bit too sudden. The guy goes from cocky pilot, who’s scared of his duty to typical loveable superhero, ready to save the day, almost instantaneously. It’s a bit too perfect to be true, and in a way brings the whole story down in my mind. Oh and the whole dead-dad flashback felt a bit too Top Gun, and added to the whole too-moveish atmosphere of Green Lantern. It would have worked in the ‘90s, but today, movies need to be realistic, even if they are about superheroes. (Why does Batman work and Superman doesn’t, for example?)
Another disappointment was the visuals. Again, maybe I am too used to Marvel’s work, but it felt a bit “early 2000” if you see where I’m going. Blame was given by the director on the 3D technique used, which involves filming in 2D, then artificially creating the 3D effect in editing. I can believe that. The alien world and people lacked detail, it felt too smooth.
Finally, the last thing that killed to movie for me was Ryan Reynolds. He can go up there with Shia Lebeouf as my top ten most annoying people who can ruin a movie. He is just too smug and cocky to be believable. It is a thin line I guess for an actor to capture that comic-book cockiness, but if achieved it is great, look at Downey Jr’s Tony Stark for example.
Maybe I’m being too analytical, but maybe some superheroes cannot work in the 21st century. Superman will never work, and I fear Green Lantern is another one. Maybe the second instalment will prove me wrong, I do hope so.
2.5/5
Loved: Still relatively enjoyable, though a lot more work has to be done!
Hated: Reynolds, pre-dual core visuals, too comic-book story
Bad Teacher (2011)
Now here is a movie that surprised me in a good way! I went in not expecting much, a bit like Bridesmaids, and came out with a huge smile on my face.
At first I thought it would be the typical good teacher/bad teacher movie, and it is in a way, yet it manages to be both innovative and amusing at the same time.
We follow here Cameron Diaz, stuck in a teacher job as her rich husband has left her. She falls for new assistant, Justin Timberlake, the only problems are her top assets. She believes she needs to get breast-enlargements in order to win his heart (and wallet in the process as he is the heir to a watch empire). Throw in HIMYM’s Jason Segel as the gym teacher who’s fallen for Diaz and we have here a very funny movie that had me yearning to return to high-school and becoming an assistant teacher.
Cameron Diaz is wonderful as the most inappropriate, foul mouthed, drug abusing, drunk teacher a school could have. Parents will probably hate it, but if you, in some weird twisted way, found the school part of your life fun, you will adore it. She is also great as the profiteering friend, trying to turn every situation to her advantage. Her role here proves that Cameron Diaz knows how to do funny very well! Justin Timberlake’s character is both pathetic and amusing at the same time. One thing is for sure, you will not look at him in the same way as before. (The part when he sings is particularly amusing. I can’t really tell you about the other very funny part; you’ll have to see for yourself).
I guess the real appeal to this movie is that we always tried to imagine how our teachers got along, when we were back at school, and in a way this movie gives us an accurate view to our image. We liked to picture them mocking each other, or trying to compete with one another. When a new younger teacher joined the school, we always wondered how things would get along. Bad Teacher answers these questions, exactly the way we’d like them answered (not always the truth I’m afraid though).
I cannot find any major faults in this comedy. Maybe the plot line is a bit simplistic, come to think of it. Maybe the end romance is a bit too obvious. Oh, and I guess some of the characters are textbook school-movie ones, so no real creativity there. It does feel very Americanised, but then again, no one seems to complain about Glee, unfortunately. All I can say is, if you are young, open-minded and enjoyed school, you will definitely enjoy this movie.
4.5/5
Loved: Really funny, great school atmosphere, great actors
Hated: Maybe a bit too simplistic, not for parents
At first I thought it would be the typical good teacher/bad teacher movie, and it is in a way, yet it manages to be both innovative and amusing at the same time.
We follow here Cameron Diaz, stuck in a teacher job as her rich husband has left her. She falls for new assistant, Justin Timberlake, the only problems are her top assets. She believes she needs to get breast-enlargements in order to win his heart (and wallet in the process as he is the heir to a watch empire). Throw in HIMYM’s Jason Segel as the gym teacher who’s fallen for Diaz and we have here a very funny movie that had me yearning to return to high-school and becoming an assistant teacher.
Cameron Diaz is wonderful as the most inappropriate, foul mouthed, drug abusing, drunk teacher a school could have. Parents will probably hate it, but if you, in some weird twisted way, found the school part of your life fun, you will adore it. She is also great as the profiteering friend, trying to turn every situation to her advantage. Her role here proves that Cameron Diaz knows how to do funny very well! Justin Timberlake’s character is both pathetic and amusing at the same time. One thing is for sure, you will not look at him in the same way as before. (The part when he sings is particularly amusing. I can’t really tell you about the other very funny part; you’ll have to see for yourself).
I guess the real appeal to this movie is that we always tried to imagine how our teachers got along, when we were back at school, and in a way this movie gives us an accurate view to our image. We liked to picture them mocking each other, or trying to compete with one another. When a new younger teacher joined the school, we always wondered how things would get along. Bad Teacher answers these questions, exactly the way we’d like them answered (not always the truth I’m afraid though).
I cannot find any major faults in this comedy. Maybe the plot line is a bit simplistic, come to think of it. Maybe the end romance is a bit too obvious. Oh, and I guess some of the characters are textbook school-movie ones, so no real creativity there. It does feel very Americanised, but then again, no one seems to complain about Glee, unfortunately. All I can say is, if you are young, open-minded and enjoyed school, you will definitely enjoy this movie.
4.5/5
Loved: Really funny, great school atmosphere, great actors
Hated: Maybe a bit too simplistic, not for parents
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)