Fast & Furious Blu Ray

Fast & Furious Blu Ray

The fourth installment in Fast and the Furious franchise returns with Vin Diesel and the rest of the gang from the original Fast and the Furious movie. This is the sequel that should have been made after the initial film. The third film, Tokyo Drift, and the second film really missed the presence of all the original casts. Time line wise, the movie falls between the second and third movie. However, the movie stays true to its roots. Mainly, fast cars and hot chicks. Not too much plot but plenty of action and eye candy.

Vin Diesel is back as Dominic Torretto who is out breaking the law in different country. Wanting to protect Letty, Michelle Rodriguez, he leaves her in the middle of the night. Letty comes back to L.A. is promptly killed in unknown circumstances. When Dominic gets the news, he returns to L.A. Meanwhile, Brian is still with FBI and wants to track down a gang of drug runners. The murder of Letty and the case Brian is working is connected. The solution to the case involves racing and some gun fights to go along with it.

If you have watched the first three films in the franchise, you won’t be surprised by the thin plot. Most viewers are back for the fast action and faster cars. This is definitely improvement over the second and third film but still won’t draw any new fans. If you are a fan than you will most likely appreciate this film. If not, you might find the film ridiculous and trite. Regardless, this will satisfy anyone looking for some mindless fun.

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Kingdom of Heaven Blu Ray Review

With Kingdom of Heaven, Ridley Scott dives into the Crusade era warfare. Scott has directed great war/action movies in the past. Scott explored Roman Empire in Gladiator. He returned to modern day warfare with Black Hawk Down. While Gladiator and Black Hawk Down emphasized more on action, the Kingdom of Heaven takes different approach. While set in middle age, the movie seems to be relevant in today’s Middle East conflict.

Orlando Bloom plays Balian, a secret son of noble heritage that used to be a blacksmith but now fight in service of Jerusalem. As the movie opens, Balian works as blacksmith but is quickly involved in some trouble. He takes a horse a follows a noble who is headed to Jerusalem for the latest Crusade effort. The noble, Godfrey of Ibelin, turns out to be his father. Through various heroics, he takes command of Jerusalem.

The movie is based on historical events. While there was some great dramatic licensing from Scott, the movie stays faithful to the overall event taken place in the movie. As with other Scott movies, the Kingdom of Heaven has great cinematography and costumes. The movie looks authentic. Orlando Bloom does great job as the main lead and answers the critic on whether he can carry a movie as the lead. The strongest point of the movie was the fair treatment of Middle East conflict and its origins. Scott does not vilify the Christians or Muslims. While there are villains in the movie, it is not the main characters that strive to end the conflict. Toward the end of the movie, Scott captures the Middle East conflict when Balian asks Saladin what Jerusalem is worth. Saladin answers “Nothing, Everything.”

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I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry Blu Ray

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry Blu Ray Review

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry is a typical Adam Sandler movie. That is to say, it is over the top sometimes crude, and very funny. Critics mostly dismissed this film along with most of Sandler’s comedies. However, Sandler usually pulls in healthy box office receipt even with bad reviews. I think the movie maker tried to inject some social commentary on the gay issues with very limited success. The film is mostly funny college humor stuff and that’s what film maker should have stuck with.

The story is about two firemen who are forced into gay marriage by a bizarre circumstance. Larry, played by Kevin James, needs to keep his benefits in support of his children. Chuck, played by Adam Sandler, owes Larry for all the times he was saved by Larry on the job. Larry calls in that favor when he finds a loophole allowing a domestic partnership that will help with his situation. This is a big problem since Chuck is a big playboy. The plot is mildly serviceable for the funny “gay” antics.

Sandler and James inject great deal of comedic presence in their roles. Both are natural comedians who know how to deliver a line or physical comedy. The movie is part buddy film part college humor film. It works fine for the targeted audience and most likely repulse serious movie goers. It’s not as funny as the Apatow movies but should be enjoyable for Sandler fans.

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Children of Men Blu Ray Review

Alfonso Cuaron paints a bleak future of no babies in Children of Men. Based on a novel by P D James, the movie takes us into 2027 where no women have given birth in 18 years. The reason is not given and we are left to surmise the cause of this infertility. This phenomenon causes massive chaos around the world. In this setting, we are introduced to Britain. In England the unrests are brutally put down by an oppressive government. The oppression works better than the chaos experienced by rest of the world.

We are introduced to Theo, a journalist who lives in England. One day, he is recruited by his ex-wife to help her get some papers for Kee. Before long, he discovers that she is pregnant and is forced to help her escape security forces as well as some unsavory insurgents. Their ultimate destination is a boat operated by the Human Project, whose goal is to save the humanity through research. While these plot devices drive forward the escapes and chases, my attention was focused on the bleak and very realistic nature of world where no babies can be conceived. The whole world has spiraled out of control without the ability to procreate. There is sense of doom throughout the movie.

Clive Owen as Theo is the perfect casting. He exudes a reluctant hero aura where he does what he has to do because he can’t just walk away. Michael Cain as the hippie and Juliane Moore as his ex-wife perfectly compliment Theo. The movie works well as science fiction film. It works even better as social commentary on many subjects. Humans facing extinction, oppression vs. freedom, and terrorism are front and center subject of this movie. Inject some very human moments and the movie is almost perfect.

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Watchmen Blu Ray

Watchmen Blu Ray Review

Watchmen, directed by Zack Snyder, was very polarizing in audience’s response. People either loved it or hated it. There seems to be no middle ground on this movie. Part of the problem seems to be from the way the movie studio advertised the film. By attaching Zack Snyder to direct a comic book adaptation seem to have pigeon holed the movie as a superhero film. If you went to watch the film expecting Spider-Man type of movie, you were most likely very disappointed. The film is more of a social commentary than a full blown superhero movie. However, watching the trailers and teasers, one might have expected a superhero film instead of what Zack Snyder delivered.

Watchmen is set in an alternate universe where masked superheroes are common occurrence. The movie opens up in 1985 with the murder of one of the masked hero named the Comedian. His partner, Rorschach, follows the lead to unmask who is killing the former masked heroes. If you have never read the original work, you might be little lost in the beginning. I have never read the work and was little bit confused as to how these “superheroes” came about. Regardless, the only one with real superhero power is Dr. Manhattan. Dr. Manhattan works with Ozymandias to develop an alternative energy source to “cure” all the ills of the world. All these events are connected and tied up nicely in the ending.

The issues brought up in the movie is not for little kids who enjoyed Spider-Man. Instead, it is very adult oriented movie. The whole alternate universe where Richard Nixon is still the president is pretty interesting to watch. The era where Soviets are constant threat and the World is on the edge of nuclear destruction. The cast is made up of largely unknown actors in the superhero or blockbuster business. Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, and Jeffery Dean Morgan are not familiar faces to many audiences. However, they are all very good especially Jackie Earle Haley as the Rorschach. Overall, this is very interesting movie. It deserved more audience but its grim nature and the story line may turn off a lot of the audiences.

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Inkheart Blu Ray Review

Inkheart is a film based on the first book of the trilogy written by Funke. The film only chronicles the first title leaving room for sequels. Although I have not read the books, the film version is watered downed from the original work. This is expected as books can’t be translated 100% accurately into a motion picture. If you enjoyed Stardust, you should also enjoy Inkheart.

Mo, Brendan Fraser, and his 12 year old daughter Meggie, Eliza Bennett, travel around Europe to accommodate Mo’s job as a book doctor. Both of the enjoy reading books. This is somewhat problematic as they have gift for brining characters to life when they read aloud. On one of the trips, he finally finds the book he has been looking for, Inkheart. The book is filled with medieval castles and strange creatures that are similar to fantasy tales. He is after the book in order to rescue his wife who disappeared into the book. There, he runs into various villains that kidnap Meggie as well. The plot is fairly amusing and the end is very satisfactory.

While Brendan Fraser, Eliza Bennett, Helen Mirren are all great actors, Paul Bethany as Dustfinger stands out as the best character in the film. The story itself is fairly straight forward. While the progression seems all over the place, you will eventually understand everything that transpires. Overall, Inkheart is an enjoyable family film mad even better by strong cast of actors. If you are looking for a family film, this film should not disappoint.

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The Rock Blu Ray

The Rock Blu Ray Review

Michael Bay knows how to direct action films. The success of Transformer series has reaffirmed Bay’s status as one of the most successful action film director. However, Bay’s film has always courted some criticism in one way or another. For example, the first Transformer was received fairly well whereas the sequel was derided by the critics. After watching the Transformers 2, I’d have to agree with critics that the first one was much better film. Also, The Island was fairly good movie whereas Pearl Harbor was a disaster. The Rock, has to be Bay’s best film. Starting Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris, The Rock is one of the best action film from the 90s.

General Hummel, played by Ed Harris, takes over Alcatraz with some hostages. His goal is to teach the government about their lack of responsibility toward the soldiers who died in the service. He threatens to launch a deadly gas attack against the city of San Francisco unless his demands are met. To counteract the threat, the government sends in Goodspeed, played by Nicolas Cage, and Mason, played by Sean Connery. Goodspeed is a scientist who is very familiar with the deadly gas while Mason is former inmate of Alcatraz who knows the layout. They accompany the Navy SEAL team to disarm the rockets and Hummel.

The film is not just blowing things up between fire fights. Each characters have very good background story to go along with their motivations. While the motivation behind Hummel is understandable, the film is not about political message or social commentary. The motivation merely serves a plot development. Ultimately, the movie is very watchable and enjoyable experience. If you watch this film and Transformers 2 you might not realize it was directed by the same director.

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Tears of the Sun Blu Ray

Tears of the Sun Blu Ray Review

Tears of the Sun is Antoine Fuqua’s follow up to the popular Training Day. Training Day earned Oscar nominations for Ethan Hawke and Denzel Washington. Denzel Washington won the Best Actor award. Tears of the Sun is more straight forward action film than the previous film. Even though the main attraction of the film is the action, it does deliver a great message. The movie portrays the violence and cruelty suffered by many Africans.

The plot is very straight forward. Lt. Waters and his team of SEALS head into dangerous area to rescue Dr. Lena Kendricks and the missionary priest in Nigeria where the rebels are threatening to murder them. While on the rescue, Dr. Kendricks refuses to leave if the refugees are left behind. Lt. Waters and his team basically go against the order and helps the refugees flee the murderous rebels. All of them must travel through harsh environment while evading the rebels to reach the safety.

While the action sequences are truly great, the real strength of the movie plays out between the fighting sequences. We see the suffering and cruelty inflicted upon the civilians by these rebels. The rebels’ actions aren’t very different or exaggerated from the actual events taking place in Africa today. That’s the real tragedy and strength of the film. Bruce Willis stands out as the rough and tough leader of the special ops. The role reminds you of his Die Hard days minus the sense of humor. This is one of the better military films that has great take home message.

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Push Blu Ray

Push Blu Ray Review

Push is little better than Jumper and not as good as X-Men series. The science fiction film borrows heavily from previous movies that dealt with human evolution that manifest in super human abilities. While a lot of audiences and critics have dismissed it as waste of time and unoriginal, it has its charm and fun. If you watched the film expecting Schindler’s list caliber film, than you will be very disappointed. However, if you take the film for a nice waste of few hours, you might come out satisfied.

The story is not very original. As stated earlier, it resembles X-Men in the subject matter. Some humans attain super human powers through experiments. While X-Men deals with evolution, the overall concept is similar. We see pockets of people with special abilities scattered throughout the World. The various organizations organize or control these people for their country. The main plot deals with one of these “pusher” escaping the facility after surviving an injection of drug that can enhance the ability. Every organization goes after this subject as she is the only subject to survive the injection.

While the story plods along in a decent speed, the main attraction of the movie is the action. The battles between different types of “pusher” are fairly well choreographed and staged. The ideas behind each abilities are interesting enough. The Jumper had people that can teleport instantly while Push has people that can perform various abilities. Overall, it’s a fun movie if you don’t expect too much.

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