The Counselor 2.5 stars

      

Great performance and a great look but what a depressing story.  No twists and turns just a little graphic violence.   The characters were interesting but you really didn’t find out much about any of them.  I felt like I needed to read the book first to find anything interesting in this movie.

Movie Review: This is the End (2 stars)

 This Is The End is an apocalyptic comedy about the end of the world.  It joins the Pineapple Express crew with the Super Bad crew to make a bad movie.  My inner 12 year old boy still enjoys bathroom humor but this movie really falls flat.   The start of the movie is pretty funny but once they get through the first 10 minutes of the world ending they run out of funny materiel.  It really would make a great 10 minute SLN skit but for a two hour movie they really wasted everyone's time by extending the same running jokes for the last 90 minutes of the movie. 


It's a shame too, they really had a lot of great talent that could have made this movie the Hangover of 2013. 

Movie Review: Superman Man of Steel (3 stars)

 It's been a long time since I blogged a movie review.  Always the 5th thing on my list but never get past the third.

I was pleasantly surprised by Superman.  I wasn't a fan of the other movies but this one was well done and I enjoyed it.  It's the same story as the first Christopher Reeves Superman movie so you don't have to worry about the plot....everyone should know it by now.    Amy Adams does a great job as Lois Lane and they give her more to do in this movie.   She is only one of many excellent actors in this movie that really make it a quality production.   Russell Crowe is Superman's father and is in the whole movie, not just killed off in the beginning (don't worry, no spoiler alert necessary).   The evil villain is played by Michael Shannon, one of my favorite actors, last seen in the move Mud (outstanding movie, you should see it).   He gives the villain depth and a great justification for being evil.

There is some silliness though, because it needs to be interesting to 10 - 12 year olds.  Too much of the movie is devoted to superman and the crew of the evil villain hitting each other with trains, automobiles, buildings etc.   They are all invulnerable so all the fighting has not impact except is looks cool to a young child.



Even with that, this movie is definitely worthy of your movie dollar.

Cabin in the Woods 3 stars

I was totally caught off guard with this movie.  I had heard some comments that I needed to see it but then I saw the 91 rating on Rotten Tomato and took the plunge.   I loved it!   It's not going to win any academy awards but it's a fun movie.   Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about the movie without ruining it for you.  So, don't try and find out what it's about.  It's best you have no expectations when you see it.

The basic premise is that you have five young adults going up to a mountain cabin for the weekend.  The typical slasher movie start but you'll notice it's different this time.  Okay, that's enough, you'll have to watch the movie to see what the rest is about....you won't be disappointed :-)

The Hunger Games 2.5 stars

This movie is from the popular teen series of books.  The usually means there is a good story that needs to be well told and that is the case here.  I thought the premise was interesting with an excellent cast of young stars.   The heroine is an outstanding actress Jennifer Lawrence.  She received her first of many academy award nominations in the movie Winter Bone (3 stars but depressing).  If you are a fan of the books I don't think you will be disappointed.  From what I heard the movie is very true to the first book in the series.  Not being a fan of the series I found the movie to be pretty slow moving.   I also found it irritating that the characters, although under constant threat of sudden death, never had a sense of urgency or never thought twice about marching through the forest without wondering if someone was about to end their life.   The other thing that detracted from the movie was the close up filming during the action scenes so that it was hard to figure out what was going on.  I guess it was to hid the violence but I though it detracted from the film.

21 Jump Street 2.5 stars

This movie is a vehicle to showcase two very popular actors Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum.  It was not done because someone had a great script.  Like the 80's TV show they are sent undercover at a high school to catch drug dealers.   It has some pretty good laughs, mostly centered around bathroom, drug, or drinking humor.   Unfortunately, not enough laughs for the 90 minute film to be worth spending money for a ticket to see it in the theater.   Put it on your Netflix list and watch it for "free" instead.

Act of Valor 2.5 stars

Navy seals put a lot of hurt on a lot of evil men.  Well done and makes you feel proud to be an American.  Not worthy of the price of a movie ticket though.  You will enjoy it just as well on Netflix or when it hits TV.