Without A Paddle

Without a PaddleI’ve heard great things about this movie and it didn’t disappoint me. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I’m not the biggest fan of comedy movies. I like action and drama. Give me some excitement! There are some comedies that I like though. This is one.

The best scene from the movie is when the 3 friends have to huddle together for warmth wearing nothing but their underwear. I don’t know why they included this in the trailers for the movie because it kind of ruined it a little bit. I was still laughing my ass off, don’t get me wrong, but it too the surprise away. Seth Green, Matthew Lillard, and Dax Shepard all performed excellent roles in the film. You probably know Dax from Punk’d on MTV, but this was his first big time role. Green played the friend everyone picked on and really fit the role since he’s so short compared to Dax and Lillard.

One complaint I have about the film is the plot has an overall serious message to it. This is supposed to be a comedy and I don’t like it when writers attempt to put two types of story into one. Save the drama for another movie because it really kills the comic tone. With that said I still really liked the flick.

I give it a B+, but only because it’s not my typical cup of tea.

The Punisher

The PunisherI don’t ever recall having a real comic book as a kid. They just didn’t interest me. I’ve liked all of the movies that have come out recently based on comic books though. Add this movie to the list as well.

I remember seeing the previews way back when and thinking that The Punisher had potential, but I had mixed feelings about how it would actually be. I was in Best Buy today picking up Rounders (Collector’s Edition) and noticed this movie was out, so I thought I’d double treat myself since I haven’t bought a new DVD since Miracle. That may be a new record for time in between DVDs!

I’m glad I made the purchase. It was a pretty good movie…my type of movie. There weren’t any super-human powers, except maybe for surviving death a few times. That’s why it’s a movie I guess. There was a lot of action and some pretty cool explosions that rocked my surround sound system. If you generally like the comic book movies, see this one. I give it a B+.

Kill Bill: Volume 2

Kill Bill, Volume 2The follow up to Volume 1

and the end of the Kill Bill series. I liked the first movie much better and for quite a few reasons.

Volume 2 was missing all of the fight scenes that made Volume 1 stand out. There were a few short action sequences, but only enough to wet your appetite. Way too much talking, background information, and scenes that had no place in the movie. I was actually quite bored during portions of the movie, so saying I was disappointed would be an understatement.

The movie starts with “The Bride” (Uma Thurman) riding in a car, giving a short recap of the events in the first installment. The movie then goes on to show exactly what happened at the church. We also find out who Bill is. The rest of the movie is the journey “The Bride” takes to kill Bill. About the only thing that kept the movie playing was my need to see her finish the job.

If you’ve seen the first movie, you have to see this one simply to get the whole story. If you haven’t seen Volume 1, don’t waste your time with either volume. I’ll be generous and give this movie a C.

Hellboy

HellboyI wasn’t expecting much from Hellboy, but it wasn’t too bad. I remember watching commercials on TV for it, thinking that I’d definitely wait for the DVD to come out. I’m glad I didn’t go to the theater to watch it, but I’m glad that I took the time to watch it.

Hellboy is another comic book that has made it to the big screen over the past few years. I really hadn’t even heard of the comic book before until a few weeks ago when someone mentioned that the movie was based on it. It’s kind of a weird story and I wouldn’t know how to explain the main idea of it, so I’ll let you watch it on your own. Nothing in this movie will knock your socks off, but there are a few cool special effects worth a glance.

I give it a C+.

Twelve Is The New Eleven

Ocean’s Twelve, the sequel to Ocean’s Eleven isn’t due out for months, but I dying to see it. Ocean’s Eleven is one of my favorite movies and the entire cast of Ocean’s crew is back for the second installment. There is a trailer out, but it doesn’t give any actual scenes from the movie, which I think is pretty cool. It helps to build up the anticipation. Will it be another sequel that flops or a hit at the box office? Since all of the main characters are back, I’m willing to bet it will stand up to the expectations and may even be better than the original.

Bourne Supremacy

The Bourne SupremacyGreat movie! I’m a Matt Damon fan to begin with, but he plays a great part in the Bourne series of movies. Damon is one of those guys you’d like to sit down in a bar and have a few beers with. He’s a great actor, but has that everyday guy image. Some of his other movies rank in my list of favorites.

The movie follows the action from The Bourne Identity, so I would recommend checking that out first if you haven’t seen it. Damon’s character, Jason Bourne, is a trained assasin on the run because he’s been framed for killing a few other agents. There were some great action scenes and a few tech gadgets as you might expect.

I really liked the movie and give it an A-.

The Hunted

The Hunted (Widescreen Edition)I always enjoy this type of movie. I think it comes from the child inside of me. As a kid I always wanted to sneak around like the highly trained government professionals. Moving around inside a room without letting anyone else know you are there has got to be one of the coolest tricks in the book.

Tommy Lee Jones and Benicio Del Toro had the leading roles and they did not disappoint. Jones played an expert tracker, who worked for the government, training men to kill efficiently and automatically. Del Toro played one of Jones’ pupils, who can no longer tell a target from a civilian. The movie revolves around Jones tracking down Del Toro, attempting to bring him in to the authorities. There are several great scenes where the two fight one-on-one.

The plot kept my interest through the entire movie and I wasn’t disappointed in the ending. I give it a B+.

Monster

MonsterCharlize Theron did an amazing job in the movie. After watching it, I can see why she won Best Actress. She completely transformed herself into the character. I don’t know how someone so gorgeous can put on that kind of weight just for a movie, but she did it.

Monster is based on a true story, and that always adds a little extra to a plot. You’re sitting there watching and whenever she kills another man, you realize, “This actually happened!” I thought the movie was a bit slow during quite a few parts and not all that entertaining, but it was great to watch Theron work her magic. A good story put to film.

I give the movie a B.

Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2Went tonight with Hater to see it. Great movie! A few too many previews, but it didn’t take away from the movie.

The story continues and has all of the characters we remember from the Spider-Man, in addition to a few new ones. Peter Parker experiences an emotional rollercoaster, before finally finding his true self with the help of a few friends, fans, and family. He loses his “spidey” powers for a period of time until he realizes his destiny as a hero.

The work the producers did with Doc Ock’s character was pretty spectacular. Finding something to do with all of those arms must have taken a lot of imagination, but it looked pretty realistic. The fight scenes were pretty amazing as well. Stan Lee made his usual appearance. Did you notice him?

I give Spider-Man 2 an A.

Dark Fury – The Chronicles of Riddick

Dark Fury - The Chronicles of Riddick (Animated)Dark Fury is a short animated film, explaining what happens in between Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick.

It was about an hour long I think, but well worth the time to watch. The story begins with Riddick flying through space, where Pitch Black left off. The spaceship gets picked up by a bounty hunter who “collects” specimens like Riddick because she views them as art. I won’t give away any more details, but say that if you’ve seen Pitch Black or plan to see the Chronicles, you need to watch this in between. I give it a B.