The Lone Ranger

Over the long weekend I went saw The Lone Ranger with my parents, siblings, and my wife which is strange because my parents do not go to very often.  However, they were excited to see The Lone Ranger because they remember the radio and TV shows.  I did not much about the background of TLR other than Tonto was an Indian and The Lone Ranger wore a mask.  Those were the only two facts I knew about the entire franchise, and from the previews the film looked like it would be a summer hit.  That was not the case.  The story was good but the acting was not up to par from one of the two stars.  

Judging by the first poster that was released for the film can you guess which star the film was centered around?  Thats right Johnny Depp.  That last few Johnny Depp movies I have seen he has been spot on for the role.  This is no different. Johnny Depp played a great Tonto.  And then there is Armie Hammer (The Social Network).  Hammer is somewhat new to Hollywood and does not have the star power to play the lead role in huge budget movie.  I am not sure what it is about Hammer but he missed the nail on playing the Lone Ranger.  His acting was just bad and he seemed so far out of place that not even the great acting of Depp could save this film.  The movie was so bad my mom didn't even like it enough to recommend it to her friends. 

Because I was not familiar with the radio and TV shows I asked her why she did not like it.  She said it was completely reversed from the originals.  In the originals Tonto was the one getting into trouble and would be saved by the Ranger.  However, in the film Tonto was always telling the Lone Ranger how to be successful and even saved him once or twice.  I would say this movie was a complete disaster and would not recommend it unless you just want to go see a movie one night this week.

Superman: Man of Steel

It has only been seven years since the 2006 Superman Returns flopped into theatre, but DC Comics and Warner Bros. decided it was time to try again with the Man of Steel.  

NO SPOILERS

This time DC and WB went with two people who know how to make great movies.  The first is no stranger to the caped crusader, Batman.  Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Trilogy, did not direct Man of Steel like he did his Batman movies but he was a producer and had a great amount of input to help make this movie work.  The director of Superman 6 is Zack Snyder, 300 and Watchmen, who has never made a bad movie.  With these two men attached to the film it guaranteed itself success. Creating a new Superman movie has not been easy according to the past attempts.  From what I have read everyone is still trying to recreate what the late Christopher Reeves did while he was play Clark Kent.  Yes, he did a great playing Cal-El in the 1980s, but that same portrayal would not work in 2013 and that is what happened in the 2006 film.  I had seen the previews for Man of Steel but was not sold on the film like I was with the Dark Knight trilogy or any of the Marvel movies.  However, since I love movies and superheroes I could not pass on seeing this one.  The beginning was very good as it started with some background and then went on to a middle school aged Clark then to an adult Clark who would have flashbacks to when he was younger and eventually make its way to the point where he finds out who he really is.  The movie ends a normal superhero fashion with a big action packed fight and the hero saying no thank you is required but this time in a different good way.

I am not paid critic who has to give good ratings to make the movie the production companies feel good about themselves, but I do try to give my readers good idea of if the movie is worth the $10 plus food and drink.  For Man of Steel I stay that is a toss up.  Was it good?  At some moments it was.  Kevin Costner and Russell Crowe made it better but they are not the in the center of the film the entire time.  I do not think it was as good Batman Begin nor any of the Marvel movies.  It sets a good foundation for Man of Steel 2 but it is no where as entertaining as The Dark Knight trilogy.  For it to be nearly two and half hour long I was disappointed in the movie because it did not keep my attention the entire time and towards the end it seemed to drag on longer than it needed to.  Most people are going to see this film because it a "Summer Blockbuster" or because it is Superman but I was not a fan of the movie and I will probably not be buying it is released on DVD/BluRay.

The Purge

Could you imagine a few hours every year when all crime was legal including rape and murder?  Well in 2022 that event takes plays every year on the same day for 12 consecutive hours.  That event is called The Purge.

It star Ethan Hawke who plays James Sandins.  The Sandins are a typical American family, but they do not take action in the purge.  Instead they act as if everything is normal and carry on there normal business.  With giving away any details and spoilers the night does go ask expected as James has to defend his family after one of his son feels generous on the wrong day of the year.  There is twist at the end I did not see coming that really shows how different people really are compared to what we think.  The previews and trailers may make this seem like a horror or scary movie but I did not think it was.  It was full of action and suspense with a few seat jumping moments but I would classify it as a scary movie and I am big scaredy cat when it comes to horror movies.  

In my little small town this is the only movie playing right now that has action and suspense that does not include tights and cape or a flying metal suit.  So if you haven't seen it yet and if Man of Steel is sold out or you don't like being in crowded theatre I recommend you seeing The Purge.

The 2013 Summer so far

Since I am just getting started again this post is going to go back to the beginning of May and review the movies that are worth going to see as well as the ones you should skip until you can redbox them for a dollar.

 The Ones You Need To See

Fast & Furious 6

I have been a fan of the franchise since the original Fast and Furious came out in back in 2001.  I am just glad the original cast has been in tacked for a majority of the six films.  Director Justin Lin did a great job in saving this franchise with The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift.  This franchise would not be the same without Paul Walker and Vin Diesel.  Once they leave the franchise it is safe to assume we will not see another Fast and Furious movie.  Since Lin is not returning to direct Fast 7 James Wan has been tapped to direct the return to Tokyo so hopeful he can pick up Lin started and ended.  Even if you have not seen the first five movies you still need to see this one.  The gang has come a long ways since street racing with neon clad ricers.

Now You See Me 
If you like movies and magic then you defiantly need to make time to see this one.  It could be one of the best "sleeper" movies of the summer 2013.

Iron Man 3
 If you are a fan of the past Marvel and Avenger movies you must see this one.  It picks up almost right after the Avengers and focuses on Tony Starks struggles.

The Great Gatsby
Leonardo Dicaprio is one of the best actors in Hollywood today and this updated remake of the great American classic is very well acted, directed, and edited. Probably one of the best movies of the year

Star Trek Into Darkness
I was not a Trekkie until the first J.J. Abrams' Star Trek in 2009 and this installment has kept me wanting more.

Oblivion
Tom Cruise has another summer hit on his hands.  It may not be in many theaters anymore but if you happen to leave in big city where it is playing I recommend you buying a ticket and some popcorn for this flick.

Olympus has Fallen
Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart team up save the US from the North Koreans.  It has a similar plot as White House Down that comes out June 28, but Olympus kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning.

Pain and Gain
Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson team up again (The Other Guys) for the film about a true story in Miama, FL.  It is about body builders who turn into kidnappers, robbers, and murders all for some money.  It was based on true that had some comedy to it.

The Big Wedding
This would be considered a chick flick but it was pretty funny.  The cast was full of stars old and new; Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, and Topher Grace.

Oz the Great and Powerful
This is the Prequel to the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz and I am not sure why it took anyone to make the srequel, but I expect more sequels to be made.

Do Not Waste Your Time or Money

After Earth

Will Smith usually means summer blockbuster but in 2013 he was a flop.  The trailers for the movie looked decent but seemed like a copycat of Oblivion.  The premise of After Earth is Will and Jaden Smith play a father-son duo who crash land on an abandoned Earth.  Will's character name is Cypher and is hurt during the crash and can't walk while Kitai (Jaden) has to cross Earth and find an emergency beacon on the tail of the ship.  Throughout the movie Kitai is trying to impress his father who had not being around a lot because of his status in the military.  The movie sounds good and the trailers were good so way was it so bad?  I do not think that it was because of Will Smith he still has tons of star power.  Jaden Smith is questionable but I think his father's presence makes up for his lack of experience (He has only been in two movies that did not also feature his dad in an acting role. Karate Kid 2010 and The Day the Earth Stood Still 2008).  I blame this movie being so bad on the director, M. Night Shyamalan.  There was a time not to long ago that Shyamalan was making waves and on his way to be the next top director in Hollywood, but ever thing he has directed since Signs has just been bad. Remember the Happening or Lady in the Water?  I blame this movies lack of success on the Shyamalan.  Even Columbia tried to hide the fact Shyamlan was directing until the credits began rolling.

Scary Movie 5

Haven't there been enough of these stupid movies?  The first one was ok but five is just uncalled for.

On the Fence Movies

The Hangover Part III

All of the characters are back for the for third and final installment for the Hangover franchise but this is a far cry from the previous two movies.  This part does not have the usual night the Wolfpack can not remember leading them to spend the next day or two putting the pieces back together.  Oh and there is no bachelor party.  I try not to give any spoilers away but I do not remember the gang even drinking, and Alan does not drug anyone this time.  It was a funny movie but it was not up to Hangover standard.  If you were a fan of the first two installments I recommend you see it so you can see the surprise ending to the Wolfpack.  If you did not care for Part I or II then just wait for it to be released on DVD/Blu-ray.

42

Who doesn't like a movie based on one of the most important person and event in the history of America?  The story of Jackie Robinson is reason why every race is accepted in sports.  The movie shows his struggle with himself, being accepted by his teammates, and then the fans.  Brian Helgland, director (Robin Hood, Man on Fire), does a good job of showing the struggles and how he overcame them.  This movie starred Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey, GM of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Chadwick Boseman who plays Jackie Robinson.  The movie only covers two year of Robinson's life.  It starts with the signing of Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers and his first season in the all white minor leagues then focuses heavily on his first season with the team.  The movie ends at the end of his first season and leaves the audience wanting more.  The ending was unfulfilling and sent me home unsatisfied.  I think that movie would have been better off being long enough to cover up until he won the World Series in 1955.  I was hoping this would be on par with Remember the Titans but I was not that lucky.

I'm Rebooting

I guess you could call this my sequel since this blog is about movies or an epic comeback, but since I am going to try be better than my last installment I am going to call this my reboot.  I mean every great movie franchise has been rebooted or revisited at some point in time (especially in Hollywood these days).  If they can reboot The Amazing Spider-Man just 5 short years after Spider-Man 3 then I can have my own reboot after 10 short months.  In honor of my reboot here is a list of my top 5 favorite reboots, least favorite, should be rebooted, and the 5 that should never ever be touched.

Top 5 Favoriate Reboots/Remakes

1.  Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy

2.  Planet of the Apes (2011)

3.  The Great Gatsby (2013)

4.  Star Trek (2009)

5.  The Mummy (1999)

5 Least Favorite

1.  The 3 Stooges (2012)

2.  The Karate Kid (2010)

3. Superman (2006)

4.  Pink Panther (2006)

5.  Planet of the Apes (2001)

5 Movies/Franchises that Need to be Rebooted

1.  Hook

2.  I am Legend

3.  Tomb Raider

4.   The Green Lantern

5.  Superman

5 Movies/Franchises that should be rebooted because they were horrible the first (and sometimes the second time)

1.  Total Recall (1990, 2012)

2.  Gremlins (1984)

3.  Fantastic Four (1994, 2005)

4.  Daredevil (2003)

5.  Godzilla (1998)

5 Movies/Franchises that should never be Rebooted because they are already perfect

1. Back to the Future

2. Jurassic Park*

3.  Star Wars*

4. The Fast and Furious Franchise*

5. Toy Story

*Sequels are only acceptable if they have some form of the original cast and are good.

The Ultimate Man Movie

Last Friday, August 17, The Expendables 2 was released to the joy of many men.  This movie is the ultimate man movie. It has everything from guns to motorcycles to explosions to fighting to blood to older action stars making jokes about being old to more guns to more fighting and more explosions.

If you did not see the first installment, The Expendables (2010), do not worry you will not be completely lost (you just missed out on the first ultimate man movie). No. 2 has all the returning stars plus a few who did not appear in the first. The two big names added to the sequel is Jean-Claude Van Damme (Universal Solider, Double Impact 1991, Timecop) and non other than former Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris. Another notable new addition to the franchise is Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games The Last Song), plays a sniper for Sylvester Stallone and his gang and brings in a splash of young to veteran actors.

I can't go into very much detail about the movie other than Church (Bruce Willis) comes to Barney Ross (Stallone) to repay a favor. The favor means going up against Villain (Van Damme). During the mission the Expendables get help from Booker (Chuck Norris) and Trench (Schwarzenegger). This movie is not kid friendly at all due to the about of violence from beginning to end. Any man that says he is a man's man must see this movie. And any ladies out their that want to surprise their manfriend, take them to this movie.

In the words of Arnold

I'll be back,

RD3

The Bourne Legacy

The fourth installment of the Bourne series was released on August 10 but is still leading the box offices as of now.  The Bourne Legacy, does not have any returning stars from the previous but introduces to Aaron Cross, played by Jeremy Renner (The Town, The Hurt Locker, The Avengers). Edward Norton (Fight Club, American History X, The Illusionist) also has a large role in the movie as he plays a Eric Byer, a retired Colonel from the US Air Force who is investigating the military programs that are responsible for Bourne and Cross.

Legacy, takes place simultaneously with The Bourne Ultamatium and mention Jason Bourne and that story line which helps connect the dots to Aaron Cross.  Bourne and Cross are from the governmental program and are the first of their kind. Cross is supposed to have been killed off in the early moments of the movie but escapes unharmed.  He then goes to save a women who was involved in a shooting at her work place which leads to an international chase. The movie ends Cross and his love interest Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz from the Mummy, The Great and Powerful Oz-2013) sailing off to the unknown.

This movie action packed from the beginning and has great chase scenes, while digging deeper in the background of Cross, Bourne, and the government programs behind the two men. The movie is rated PG-13 for its violence, there was no bad language and only one scene with kissing. The Bourne Legacy would make for a great movie to catch for anyone over the age of 13.