Blu ray movie review of 2012

Only thing you need to know about 2012 is that it was directed by Roland Emmerich. You get the entire Roland Emmerich experience in the movie 2012. That is to say, you get exciting CGI, End of the World scenario, shallow character development, shallow plots, and things blowing up every other minute. If you have watched Independence Day and Day After Tomorrow, you will have good idea of what to expect from 2012. This isn’t to totally disparage Roland Emmerich’s film. He does good job with the End of the World scenarios with the help of heavy CGI. What he fails to achieve is good plot and good character development. You watch The Day After Tomorrow or 2012 and you realize you’ve just watched bunch of explosions and catastrophes in epic proportion. But, you fail to sympathize or get a good sense of each character’s development.

The plot of 2012 is fairly similar to The Day After Tomorrow. Like The Day After Tomorrow, we witness the beginning of epic disaster at the start of the movie. You watch cities get razed and massive number of people dying within short span of time. The 2012 takes this to next level compared to The Day After Tomorrow. Somehow, the Earth gets “cooked” and the disasters start with earthquakes and massive volcanoes. We primarily follow a writer named Jackson Curtis as he stumbles across some information and sees the impending doom. He desperately tries to save his family including his ex-wife’s husband. What he fails to recognize is the fact that the governments have known about the impending doom and have started creating massive ships akin to Noah’s ark to save the humanity. Curtis must race against the time to reach the ships to save his family.

The overall premise sounds very exciting. And, the trailers and sneak peeks were all amazing. Until you watch the actual film. You go from one disaster to another with very little character development. Also, the trailers and sneak peeks are half of the movie. You can just watch them without having to miss too much of the plot. However, the movie does boast impressive CGI and great casts. John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover and Chhiwetel Ejiofor are all excellent actors. If there was some better character development and little better plot, the movie could have surpassed The Day After Tomorrow in every aspect. Instead, we get a shallow sequel to that movie.

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G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra Blu Ray

G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra Blu Ray Review

I had some reservation about the quality of G.I. Joe prior to the viewing. The studio behind G.I. Joe refused to screen the movie for the critics before the wide release in the theater. This is usually done to prevent bad reviews reaching the public before the release in the theater. The reason cited by the studio was that Transformer’s sequel received fairly poor reviews by the critics and they did not want the same for the G.I. Joe film. After watching the film, I feel it’s on par with Transformer sequel. It’s not bad but it’s not great. All the great special effects and stunts are present in the movie based on Hasbro’s toy and animation franchise. Even so, it is not one of the better movies to be released this year.

The movie revolves around a not very nice arms manufacturer and dealer named James McCullen. His company develops a nano tech weapon to be sold to NATO. However, on the day of the sale, he masterminds the heist of the weapons and threatens to unleash it on the World. He comes through on the threat by using Cobra to unleash the weapon in Paris. To counteract Cobra, G.I. Joe is dispatched to stop the Cobra and McCullen. The two forces collide all over the World. Cobra intends to steal the weapon and G.I. Joes intends on preventing them from unleashing the nano weapons.

The plot is not the important part of the film. It starts with convoluted story of long line of McCullen arm dealer from the 17th century to present day. And, add few cheesy revenge factors from main characters to round out the overall plot. All of it serves as an exercise to showcase the special effects in car chase scenes and fighting scenes. These scenes are very well done. The big budget of the movie shows up in a very good way in the action sequences. Not so much in acting. The two main leads, Marlon Wayans and Channing Tatum are awful. Marlon Wayans should stick with the parody films instead of action. I just can’t buy him as an action hero. Channing Tatum is no better. Had the movie had solid leads and more original plot, it could have been a decent movie. Instead, it’s just another mindless action movie with big budget.

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu Ray

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Blu Ray Review

After watching Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, I couldn’t help myself thinking “what happened to this movie.” And, after 10 minute or so, you realize it’s just another Michael Bay movie. I don’t fall into a group of people who instantly dismiss or ridicule Bay movies. While Bay movies tend to prefer explosions to plot, some of them tend to be very entertaining. However, the first Transformers was funny, entertaining, and very watchable movie. That is why I was so disappointed with the sequel. The plot was all over the place and the humors and smart dialogues were replaced with expensive looking special effects and explosions, classic Michael Bay.

The thin plot is in place for the epic battle scenes between the Transformers. The movie starts off with Sam going to college while the Autobots team up with U.S. government to fight off any remaining Decepticons. The sporadic attacks from Decepticons keep the alliance busy. A new threat that’s been dormant awakens to terrorize Earth inhabitants In search of an artifact. Two sides race to find this artifact and Sam gets involved in the conflict once again.

The overall problem with the movie is the extremely thin plot and recycled dialogues. The plot of both sides looking for an artifact seems to be plot from the first movie. That in itself is fine except the sequel lacks any original elements. Both sides go from one place to another getting into a giant fights. The dialogues seem to be forced and unfunny in the second installation. Even so, the movie made killing at the box office ensuring a third film. At any rate, the action sequences are well done as befitting a Bay film. After about two hours, you want the movie to wrap up.

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Apocalypto Blu Ray Review

Mel Gibson’s follow up to the box office hit The Passion of the Christ was not as profitable. Apocalypto was fairly well received by the critics. However, the subject matter and some of the violent scenes might have rendered it family unfriendly. While the subject matter of ancient Mayan kingdom might have been fine, the very violent sequences were lambasted by some viewers. While the movie is violent, the reality of human sacrifice is well documented and even more horrific than the movie’s portrayal.

The movie opens with a group of hunters taking down a big game animal. While cleaning the animal, they encounter refugees fleeing from some unknown force. This puts the entire hunters at unease, especially Jaguar Paw. The day after, Mayan warriors invade the village and capture most of the man and woman. The villagers fights back but are quickly overwhelmed. They are marched to the temple where they are to be sacrificed. The sacrificial scenes are very violent and gruesome. However, I believe them to be fairly accurate portrayal. Jaguar Paw is spared the gruesome fate when the executioner thinks the god has had enough sacrifice. Jaguar Paw escapes the clutch of the capturers and leads them on a hunt.

This movie is much more than simple adventure/action movie. It shows the ultimate decline of the once mighty Mayan civilization. The brutal sacrifice and the building of temples highlight the eventual down fall of the kingdom. This is especially true when we see the landing of European people toward the end of the movie. We see the inevitable doom of Mayans and their unsuccessful attempt at survival. This was one of the better film of 2006 and probably deserved better box office treatment.

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Patriot Games Blu Ray Review

Harrison Ford’s first foray into Tom Clancy movie was probably the probably the weaker of the two Jack Ryan movie. After the great job by Alec Baldwin in The Hunt for Red October, Harrison Ford steps in as the next Jack Ryan in the thriller. Is he better than Baldwin? I think so. I think Harrison Ford was the best Jack Ryan in Clancy inspired films. As one might suspect from a movie derived from Tom Clancy, it is a thriller with lots of intrigue sprinkled with sporadic action sequence.

Harrison Ford stars as CIA agent Jack Ryan along with Anne Archer as his wife and Thora Birch as his daughter. The movie starts with Jack Ryan preventing a car bombing attempt by IRA. During the course of intervention, he kills few IRA members including a brother of a terrorist, Sean Miller. This sets up the revenge plot by Sean Miller who vows to avenge his brother. He soon targets the entire Ryan family for his revenge. The family is put through very challenging situations. The movie is about Ryan having to outwit and out muscle his opponent to save his family.

Made in 1992, the movie will feel outdated for most viewers who are more accustomed to satellites and spy gadget infested thrillers. While this may detract some luster, it is still a very serviceable film. There are some plot holes here and there. But, it is a solid thriller with solid acting and assured directing. The Blu-ray update is still very much warranted as I consider this a must for Tom Clancy fans.

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Blu-Ray disc movie review of Body of Lies

Ridley Scott has built his solid reputation with blockbusters like Alien, Bladrunner, and Gladiator. This time around, he tackles the spy business in the latest movie. Unlike Spy Game from Tony Scott, Ridley Scott emphasizes the current tension in the Middle East. Strip down the plot and time, both Spy Game and Body of Lies feel similar in the story telling of spy business. Whereas Spy Game had more likeable boss in Robert Redford, Body of Lies has equally great character in Russell Crowe. Both movies deal with spy master and his protégé in the field.
The overall plot is too convoluted to go over in detail. Roger Farris, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is field spy who is on the trail of Al-Saleem, terrorist leader. The usual cat and mouse stuff happens between the two. A trail leads Farris to Jordan and chance to work with Hani Salaam, head of Jordanian intelligence agency. Of course there is tension between
Ed Hoffman, the CIA boss of Roger, and Hani Salaam. There are many conflicts between the terrorists, CIA, and Hani Salaam. You don’t quite know who is up to what until the final sequence of the movie.
There’s really not much to say about the director or the actors. They are all Oscar caliber professionals. The movie’s plot is pretty convoluted but that does not take away from the entertainment value. Ridley Scott knows how to put together a great movie. Russell Crowe was especially great as the “end justify the mean” character that will stop at nothing to get the job done. He really should have received Oscar nomination for this role. In the end, this is a great spy thriller with great acting and tight direction.

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Blu-Ray movie review of Monsters, Inc

For better part of the 90s and early 2000, Pixar has owned the animation movie market. They did it with movies like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. Monster Inc was part of the Pixar domination. Like other Pixar movies, this movie can be enjoyed by adults and kids. Pixar has pioneered and led the 3-D animation industry and it shows. Monster Inc is a beautifully rendered film.

The story is remarkably simple. It’s about the monsters in the closet. We have all wondered about the monsters in the closet or beneath our bed when were young. This movie fully explains the monsters in the closet. Monsters, Inc is a typical corporation that generates energy through kid’s fears and screams. The employees of this company must travel from their world to ours through the closets of kid’s bedroom. On one of the trip a human baby accidently travels through the door to the other world. The monsters themselves are terrified of the child. It is up to Mike and James, two lovable monsters, to help the child return home safely.

This is very humorous look at the old “monster in closet” problem created by every child. The two voices by John Goodman and Billy Crystal is spot on as most Pixar movies are. This is movie that everyone can enjoy and relate to. The reversal of child in monster world is full of humor and funny moments. All of the Pixar animation should see the Blu-ray treatment and Monster, Inc is no exception.

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Blu-Ray disc movie review of The Boondock Saints

There seems to be no middle ground when it comes to Boondock Saints. People either love it or hate it. The people that hate it might point out outlandish premise and sequences. But, people that love it will point out that the film is fun, violent, and entertaining. This film has very unique gay character that lies outside of lame cliché gay characters. Willem Defoe’s gay character is amazing. The interaction between the two brothers is priceless.
The story revolves around two Irish-American brothers and Willem Defoe’s gay FBI character. The two brothers start down a road of vigilante. They target the killers, mafia, and drug dealers. The FBI agent in charge of tracking these two is none other than Willem Defoe. He reluctantly follows the lead as he likes the service the brother provides. There are flashes of comedy bisected by violence. And, as mentioned earlier, there are some crazy outlandish situations that defy logic. The real attraction is the interaction between the main characters.
This movie has a lot going for it. If you loved Reservoir Dogs, this movie will delight you from start to finish. Don’t expect too much character development as they are mainly there to entertain and to ponder the meaning of life. But, don’t take this to be a shallow boring movie that just imitates Reservoir Dogs. It is very entertaining on its own right.

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Blu-Ray disc movie review of Meet Dave

Eddy Murphy seems to be churning out family friendly film at alarming rate these days. After the success of Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hours franchise, Eddy Murphy has largely floundered in mediocre films except for Shrek franchise. Most of these mediocre films have been family friendly affair with minimal budget and modest box office haul. That seems to be Eddy Murphy’s plan with Meet Dave. It’s very forgettable film that entire family can watch without fear of sex and violence.
Meet Dave is a story about a crew of miniature beings inhabiting a bigger robot who arrive on Earth to save their own kind. Eddy Murphy plays the captain of the mission. When the vehicle gets damaged in the collision, he decides to learn more about human and their emotions. He gets to know the person who has run him over. This sounds like some Disney affair and it is exactly that. There are some funny moments to go along with light hearted drama.
This is family film that’s intended for family. If you are twenty something and looking for a good movie, this might not be your cup of tea unless you are big Eddy Murphy fan. This isn’t to say that there aren’t any funny moments because there are plenty of funny situations. Eddy Murphy deserves a lot of the flack he gets for movies like Norbit. However, this film doesn’t deserve that harsh treatment as it is primarily targeted at family viewing. This is a solid family film with feel good story. Any other demographic might want to avoid this film.

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Blu-Ray movie review of Max Payne

Max Payne had plenty of material to draw from. The video game offered a great world with great characters in a great plot. The movie Max Payne tarnishes the great video game in my opinion. There are little resemblance from the movie and the video game. In an interview, Mark Wahlberg refused to play the video game before shooting the film. I don't think it's necessary to play the game in order to give a good performance. But, I'm not sure if anybody involved in the film actually played the game. The bare skeleton of the video game was used in the movie. The movie makers get the noir feeling of the game. But, not much else is used.

The beginning of the plot is same for the movie. Max Payne comes home to find his wife and baby killed. He transfers to cold case department to track down the person responsible for the murder. Few clues lead him the drug scheme by the drug company. Along the way, he runs into a Russian mafia named Sax who wants revenge the murder of her sister. Max and Sax, played by Mila Kunis, try to track down the people responsible.

I wasn't a big fan of Mark Wahlberg before the movie. I'm still not a big fan of Mark Wahlberg after the movie. I don't know why Mila Kunis was even cast in the movie. I think she is great actor but she had little to do in the movie. In fact, the Sax character could have been written out and we'd still have the same movie. The actors and actress were not the problem with the movie. The script was terrible.

Roger Ebert has consistently said that video games are not a form of art. He should play the game and watch this movie and decide which one is art and which one is not. This is why movies made from video games are so derided. It isn't Super Mario bad. But, it is fairly disappointing effort all around.

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