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By devon, on July 26th, 2010
Up (2009)
By Devon Gilbert
Up is one of those movies that makes me wonder how I was ever able to watch hand drawn cartoons. I feel bad for saying that considering hand drawn animation is still very difficult to achieve and has made for many great films/TV shows, but CGI animation blows it out of the water. It seems that every CGI animated film I see looks more gorgeous and detailed than the last. Up is no exception.
Of course, by now, everyone knows to expect an above average film when there is a Pixar label involved. It goes without saying the animation is top tier. As for story, it was one of the best and most mature I have ever seen in an animated film. It involves an old man, Carl Fredrickson (voiced by Ed Asner), who is struggling with life after the loss of his wife. In an attempt to make his late wife’s dream come true, he attaches a bunch of helium balloons to his house and sets out for the “undiscovered” Lost Land. Unbeknownst to him, Wilderness Explorer Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) was on his porch when he took off.
From there the plot takes off in more or less a typical Pixar adventure. But the themes are more mature. I think adults are going to be more touched by this film than kids. On the flip side, I think kids will enjoy the humor more than the adults. Though, I don’t know how anyone could not laugh at the “squirrel” running gag. There is a montage that runs through Carl’s whole life with his wife and continues past her death. It sums up the bright side of marriage in less than five minuets, a feat which I consider to be one of the best attempted in an animated film. The movie is not perfect though.
I found Russell to be stupid annoying, not stupid funny. The more Russell talked, the more I started to feel like I was watching a film about the mentally handicapped. Also, I thought the villains (dogs with collars that allow them to speak) were weak and not very intimidating. But maybe I’m judging a kids movie to seriously. Leave it to Pixar to make you wonder.
Up: A-
By devon, on July 19th, 2010
The Hills Run Red (2009)
As far as straight to DVD horror movies go, you could do much worse than The Hills Run Red, directed by Dave Parker. The movie doesn’t exactly defy stereotype, especially when it’s centered on a masked killer, but it feels original enough. Not to mention there’s something very intriguing about the idea of finding an old lost film so scary and disturbing it has the power to drive people mad.
The plot of this film follows college student Tyler, played by Tad Hilgenbrink, who is obsessed with finding an old movie like the one described above. His quest is especially difficult because the director has been MIA for years, much like the cast. The movie he is looking for is called The Hill Run Red, about a vicious killer named Babyface. Close to the beginning of the movie we see that Tyler has an old movie trailer for The Hills Run Red, and the contents looks much like an old Friday the 13th movie. Just a guy gruesomely killing people in the woods. However as the plot thickens, this movie sort of gains from that cliché, in that it gives you the idea that any old movie from your childhood could have been more realistic than you think.
I think the movie could have gone farther with that idea, instead of going down the deranged “Texas chainsaw” family route. However, the movie is original and fast moving enough to be well worth the 80 minute running time. The cast is adequate and raises no complaints. In the gore department, the film is average with a couple scenes that stand out as gruesome. There are also some creepy moments, which to me is amazing having long ago become immune to mask wearing killers in the woods. I also very much liked the “before the credits” final scene of the movie. Even the last scene during the credits is pretty good and scary, though again, not quite original.
I would recommend this horror film to pretty much anyone interested in the genre. For people used to hard-core horror, it may be tame but its original touches should make it worth you’re while. For people into tamer horror films, shame on you (just kidding), this might be a step up in gore and intensity but it’s far below the Saw and Hostel type films. This is almost a perfect example of what a B horror movie should be.
The Hills Run Red: B
By devon, on July 9th, 2010
The Hangover (2009)
I didn’t expect much from The Hangover. Of course the premise, about three guys who wake up after a crazy Las Vegas bachelor party with no memory of the prior night yet must find the missing groom in time for his wedding, had lots of potential to be hilarious. It’s just that most the time Hollywood misses the mark with mainstream comedy. I’m sorry, but Knocked Up and Wedding Crashers were about as funny as used toilet paper (maybe not even). However, I was greatly surprised by The Hangover.
Todd Phillips is a director I would usually associate with bad Hollywood mainstream comedy, with the exception of Old School. Now he can add another good film to his resume. This movie gets a lot of laughs out of how bad one bachelor party can go. And luckily, this party was uniquely outrageous. The three main characters (played by Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis) wake up to find their apartment thoroughly destroyed, a tiger in the bathroom, and a baby of unknown origin in the closet. One of their crew, the groom (Justin Bartha), is missing. They have very little time to find him before the wedding starts back in LA. Of course as they discover clues, they discover more evidence of a seriously debauched night, which range from learning they are now in possession of a cop car to finding a naked Asian man in the trunk of the car they arrived to Las Vegas in.
Plot doesn’t really matter in this movie, it’s the laughs, which is how it should be for a comedy. This movie has no stupid last half hour that turns dramatic. The cast works well together, with possibly the exception of Justin Bartha even though he was barely in the movie. He seemed boring and not funny at all; I was happy he was missing. Supporting cast (like Heather Graham, Ken Jeong, and Mike Epps) all do an adequate job with their roles.
All in all, The Hangover is actually one of the best comedies of the year, if for no other reason than it wants nothing else but to be funny.
The Hangover: B+
By Collin, on July 9th, 2010
Star Trek (2009)
Being born in 1984 means that I grew up surrounded by a fair share of Star Trek. Even though the original Star Trek series had ended long before my birth, there were several spin-offs on TV. I never really got into any of them, save for some episodes of Star Trek Next Generation. As for the old Star Trek movies, I really like them (though Star Trek 5 The Final Frontier is deeply flawed). They have the rustic/non CGI feel of the old Star Wars trilogy, some cool action scenes, and interesting sci-fi plots. The cast was unique and well suited for the material. After Star Trek 6 The Undiscovered Country, four Next Generation movies were released. Only number 8, First Contact, was actually good.
Now here we are, where modern times have produced a modern Star Trek. And go figure, it not only totally rocks, but it also may well be the best of the eleven Star Trek movies. The movie’s biggest asset is a young, talented cast that is very believable as younger versions of the old cast. It’s easy for both new and old fans to like this cast and the characters being portrayed. To director J.J. Abrams’s credit, he keeps the characters extremely close to the original but makes some slight changes that really paid off. For instance Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk is more aggressive and brash than in past renditions of the character, which makes the movie more intense. Zachary Quinto’s Spock is more in touch with his feelings, which makes his character more unpredictable. Zoe Saldana’s Uhura is sexier and more flirtatious, which needs no explanation. You get the picture.
The plot is simple if a little hard to understand completely on first viewing. It has to do with crazy Romulan Nero (Eric Bana) seeking revenge for the destruction of his home planet. To do this he must travel back in time, which alters the course of time so that the new films don’t have to match with the old in every detail. Bet George Lucas wishes he thought of that (R2-D2 with rockets anyone?). As Nero’s plan unfolds, the Enterprise crew is slowly but surely formed. By the time the final battle occurs, the Enterprise crew is operating together effortlessly to fight off a villain, something I’m sure will happen a lot more in the future.
As a reboot to an old franchise, this movie excels. As an origin story, this movie excels. And as a good old-fashioned movie that entertains and leaves you with a smile, this movie excels. The only reason I would not give this movie a perfect score is because the villain (Nero) is pretty weak. Not only as a character, but also because he seems silly and not physically intimidating. But oh well, this movie is about the Enterprise crew coming together anyway.
Star Trek: A-
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