Kung Fu Hustle: Kung Fu (2004)

Directed by and starring Stephen Chow this is the biggest Hong Kong film to date. Highest grossing in Hong Kong and the most US screens. The film is slapstick kung fu, after watching it I downloaded the poster, and if you zoom in you will see the quote they brag at the top. I agree with Ebert and thought, man this is like bugs bunny meets Buster Keaton [he worded it better... which he usually does].

Unlike some of the other "funny" kung fu films, where I'm not sure if I could be laughing or not, this one is funny and tries to be. It starts with the Ax gang reaping havoc in the city, then takes us to a small village with a landlord's mean wife imposing outrageous rules. When some imposters pose as the ax gang, and call in the real gang it is revealed that some of the towns residents are martial arts experts. The village then is forced into a conflict with this gang.

It is very silly, and better when I reflect on the film [after seeing some much worse films]. Part of the imdb modern 250. I suspect we haven't seen the last of Stephen Chow.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/

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My Darling Clementine (1946)

A classic John Ford western starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp. Not the best title for a film, which lead me to think it might even be a romance. Some might say it is a romantic western, but that is kind of an oxymoron. A film that finished the filmsite.org top 100 for me, this was really pretty good.

A retelling of the shootout at the OK Corral in the town of Tombstone. A western tale retold in several other films this is Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and Doc Holiday against the Clanton family. Walter Brennan plays the father of the Clanton family, an actor I'm used to seeing in a hero, or at least on the side of good.

 The love triangle between Earp, Holiday, and Clementine give depth to the storyline. For a western, I really liked it, and if you are looking for a good western check this one out.


Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038762/

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Robin Hood (2010)

Wow! This was not what I expected at all. Ridley Scott's take on the classic story is much different than you would expect and you need to go into this movie understanding that.

I was very confused the first 20 minutes as I tried to connect what was going on with the story line I am so used to. Don't do this, take it as a completely different story and you will really like it. Marketing this film as "Robin Hood" did not help. A film with a $200 million budget that has yet to reach $106 million with rentals and purchases is burdened by a generic title. I do like Russell Crowe, even though I joke about him "fightin' round the world," but I really don't like Cate Blanchett (I didn't like Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I'm Not There., or Babel to name a few.).

The open ending was frustrating (not meant to be a spoiler), not to talk about details but I don't see how they have enough storyline to make a second. This one takes so many new and different turns that I could see it happening, but I doubt it would be funded since this one stands to lose money. If you haven't see this one I suggest you check it out. Subtitles might be necessary or helpful for some because they talk low and are hard to understand at times.


Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/

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The Mechanic (2011)

The next in the ever growing line of Jason Statham action films. Typically one that I would skip, but I saw the second name... Ben Foster. Foster takes on unpredictable roles; films like Alpha Dog, 3:10 to Yuma, and The Messenger were all stronger films thanks to him.

The plot is the typical elite hit man trains the new hit man plot. Rather than just take us through a hit man's routines, maybe because it is difficult to side with a killer, we like to watch them "teach" because that shows a compassionate side. Typical in many senses of the theme, the action is good and much more realistic than a number of the action movies I've seen lately.

The thing I will remember most about this one is the directing style of Simon West, I'm not familiar with his recent works, or sure if this is a trend in his film making, but I found this interesting: Most action films are full of cursing, FULL. Everyone has to use the F-Bomb continuously. This film has some decent dialogue and not an unusual amount of cursing. On the other hand there are multiple sex scenes and gory violence. Most action films show a bullet entering cleanly, this one is full of splatters and blood. Much more realistic, but deserving of a high rating.

I gave it a high just average, not a "worth watching" because it was a weak plot and predictable. Better than a 5 or 6 because of Foster and the comments on being realistic instead of full of cursing. You might like this one...

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472399/

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Burlesque (2010)

At the tail end of musical month, the biggest musical of the year could not be skipped. Not to mention as a Golden Globe winner, for Cher's song, I had to get this one end at the end.

I'm not really sure I know who the target audience was for this film. I idea of the film stems from the director Steve Antin watching Christina Aguilera perform with The Pussycat Dolls back in 2002. It seems like the film was built around that, and little more. The premise is that small town Ali [Christina Aguilera] decides to move to LA because she is tired of living in a small town. Struggling to make ends meet she becomes a waitress at a Burlesque. Her goal is to be a performer, and when she finally does one of the stars sabotages her show forcing her to actually sing.

Some of the songs are ok. For a dead genre it wasn't that big of a flop, and I kind of enjoyed seeing Aguilera act. I honestly don't recognize her without being on stage performing so that was actually pretty cool. Cher was ok, and I don't understand why Stanley Tucci was in this film. He is a really good actor and should be taking on roles in better films. He acted really well in this film, but it clearly wasn't challenging for him. Step it up Tucci!

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1126591/

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Dodsworth (1936)

Since I rarely read the synopsis of a film before watching it [ironic I write reviews for others to read huh?], I didn't know if I should expect a comedy or drama on this film. For some reason it only seems like comedies from this era make it onto any of the lists I'm working on. However, this drama was a refreshing change, and good as well.

Directed by William Wyler and starring Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton, as Mr. and Mrs. Dodsworth, and Mary Astor as Mrs. Cortright. The film starts with Mr. Dodsworth selling his automobile company and retiring off of the profit. It is evident from the start that they are two completely different people that really don't interact much. Mr. Dodsworth seems like a small town man who worked hard, built up a company and is not rich. Mrs. Dodsworth is a socialite who turns her nose up as every thing that is not up to her standard. The two start his retirement by taking a long trip to Europe. In this day and age that meant a long sea voyage with a several month stay. From the start of the trip it is clear that Mrs. Dodsworth is not ready to be a grandmother and sink into retirement, she wants to live, which also means she likes the company of other men.

A film about a constrained relationship with a woman in a mid-life crisis is nothing I expected from a 1930's film. When they spend some time apart Mr. Dodsworth stays with Mrs. Cortright. I'm not sure if her name is supposed to be ironic "court" "right" because their courtship is strange to say the least. It is also interesting to note that the actress Mary Astor was going through a divorce during the shooting of this film.

I try not to define a lot of films this old as "Worth Watching" because I know people wouldn't check them out if I said a lot were. Not to mention I don't feel many really are worth the time. This one if very much worth your time.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027532/

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Gulliver's Travels (2010)

I didn't expect much out of the latest helping of Jack Black cinema. A one dimensional actor that you know ahead of the time if you like or not. I'm a fan of The School of Rock and have found most of his films hit or miss since. So right off the bat if you don't like Jack Black you won't like this at all.

Another modern day spin on the classic story, Black works in the mail room of what I believe is a travel magazine. He doesn't really aspire to become a journalist, but for years has been in love with Amanda Peet's character, Darcy. To impress her he plagiarizes some material to get a shot at a story, she sends him to the Bermuda Triangle where he goes through a storm and is sent to the island of Liliput. He makes friends with Horatio [Jason Segel] who is in love with the princess [Emily Blunt].

Like most bad comedies the film has a good setup, the first 20-30 minutes aren't bad. I actually watched this in two parts the was pretty happy when I took a break in the middle. After the setup Black is left to ad-lib the next 30 minutes. This is where the film takes a turn for the worse.

I'm kinda glad I checked it out, but I one bad review from avoiding this one. I hope I'm your "one bad review" and you skip it like I should have. I like Segel and Blunt, but they couldn't save this film.

Vote: 4/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320261/

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