REVIEW: The Longest Yard (2005)

MOVIE
The Longest Yard

CAST
Adam Sandler, Chris Rock

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
May 27, 2005

DIRECTOR
Peter Segal

STUDIO(S)
Paramount Pictures,

Columbia Pictures,

MTV Films, Happy Madison

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 53 minutes

GRADE
B (85)

STARS
**1/2

REVIEW:

In a world where remakes and Adam Sandler movies dominate the box office, one movie will combine those two genres and become one. That film, is The Longest Yard. Paul Crewe is an ex-football star, who was just sentenced to three years in prison. So when the warden assigns him to help out the prisoner's football team, he will attempt to lead some of the most vicious people in the world to victory. Of all of Sandler's movies, this has to be the raunchiest one so far. It's not that it isn't good, because it is, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. Chris Rock is a fun presence to watch and can make you laugh at any time. Adam Sandler does his usual bit of being either a nice guy gone psycho or a psycho turned true sport. And frankly, it's starting to get a little annoying to me. I never saw the original with Burt Reynolds. Actually, Burt Reynolds is in this as the coach of the prisoner's team. But when I do, I'm guessing it'll be funnier than this, since I was excpecting a lot more. But if you want a laugh or two, especially with Tracy Morgan's hilarious tidbit as a transsexual, then rent this and you'll know that comedies are meant for laughs and not seriousness, what ever that means.

REVIEW: All About Steve

MOVIE
All About Steve

CAST
Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
September 4, 2009

DIRECTOR
Phil Traill

STUDIO
20th Century Fox

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 39 minutes





GRADE
B- (82)






STARS
**1/4








REVIEW:

Most of the people who saw this movie hated it, while the rest of those people, which is a small number of people enjoyed it. Me, I'm just stuck in the middle of them, thinking whether or not I should like the movie or dislike. Mary is a brilliantly gifted crossword puzzle writer at the Sacramento herald. But this comes with a price: she is socially awkward and her only friend is her pet hamster. But when her parents set her up with Steve, who turns out to be a stud instead of a dud, she believes she has met the one. So Mary travels all over the country to find Steve, who believes that Mary is a psychopathic stalker that wants to kill him. I wouldn't say this was the worst of 2009, but it's definitely not the best. Sandra Bullock is a little scary in this movie since she will not stop following Steve around the country. But the movie does have a few funny parts in it. The reason critics didn't like the movie is because it wasn't their type of film to see. If it was a group of teenagers - mid 20 year olds who were seeing this movie, they would like it, and that's exactly who this movie was made for. But for those who saw The Blind Side and The Proposal, they will soon find out that this is a different Bullock movie than those hits. This is certainly not the best Bullock performace and Bradley Cooper, who was fresh of of Hangover sucess is just their to be the pretty boy. But overall, if you're a teenager through 25 year old who wants to giggle a little and pass a good two hours in front of the TV, then this is the movie for you. But if you want to see it, wait for it on HBO, it'll make you feel better that you didn't see it in theaters.

REVIEW: Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult

MOVIE
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult

CAST
Leslie Nielson, Priscilla Presley

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
March 18, 1994

DIRECTOR
Peter Segal

STUDIO
Paramount Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 23 minutes

GRADE
B+ (87)

STARS
***

REVIEW:

It's definitely funnier than the second Naked Gun movie, but can't live up to the original, even if this still gives plenty of laughs. Frank Drebin, the bumbling police officer from the first two is back, but is married to Jane and has retired from Police Squad. But now he must come out from retirement to stop a bomb from blowing up and killing everyone in attendance at the Academy Awards. I probably explained the entire movie to you, but that's the official synopsis. The one problem I had with this Naked Gun film is that it felt very short, even though it's a mere 83 minutes. It didn't have much of a story anyway, and it mostly relied on slapstick and sexual jokes throughout. I do give props to the late Anna Nicole Smith, who's "acting" was very superior and excellent. I think that the funniest parts occurred in the beginning and the end, but the middle of the movie sort of lagged the excellence of the original. I'm making this review short and sweet: The Naked Gun 33 1/3 is a funny movie and should be watched by anyone who likes the series. I do hope though that a fourth one comes out, even though O.J. is in jail. They could probably make an excuse for his absence anyway. Any by the way, I personally think the poster is a little better than the movie, only by another half of a star.

REVIEW: The Sorcerer's Apprentice

MOVIE
The Sorcerer's Apprentice

CAST
Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel

RATING
PG

RELEASE
July 14, 2010

DIRECTOR
Jon Turtelaub

STUDIO
Walt Disney Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 51 minutes





GRADE
A- (92)





STARS
***1/4







REVIEW:

Well I can say that this is a heck of a lot better than Prince of Persia, Disney's earlier summer hit with Jake Ghyllenhaal. I can also say that this is a very fun movie the whole family can watch and still have a great time, even if the daddy or older brother(s) wanted to see Inception with his buddies instead of this. Balthazar Blake has been searching for a thousand years to find the successor of Merlin, his late master. He soon finds this successor in Dave, a 20 year old college nerd living in modern Manhattan. This successor is the only one who can defeat Maxim Horvath, Balthazar's arch nemesis, and Morgana le Fay, Merlin's arch-nemesis who wants to raise the dead and create an army with them to destroy the world. Dave must also get Becky, the girl whom he has loved since 4th grade. In order to suceed in all that must be accomplished for himself and the rest of the world, Dave must become, altogether, The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Like I said, this is a smart and fun family movie that also includes great special effects. Nicolas Cage, who's better known to Disney fans as Ben Gates from the National Treasure series does a great job as Balthazar and seems like he's enjoying every second of it. Jay Baruchel, who was in 2010's earlier hit How To Train Your Dragon plays the same character in every movie he's in. You know, the nerdy whiz kid that eventually gets the girl who's clearly out of his league. (He was also in She's Out Of My League) But he's still an enjoyable screen presence that helps keep the movie alive. But the most interesting role in this movie is Alfred Molina as Maxim Horvath, the films antagonist. Mr. Molina is no stranger to villanous roles. He was Doc Ock in SpiderMan 2, one of my favorite superhero movies ever. His role is probably the most thought out character in the movie, not that he was the best. I also enjoyed the chemestry between Cage and Baruchel, which was very funny and touching to see. Overall, this is one of the summer's better movies that families of all kinds will love. So if you've already seen kids hits like The Karate Kid, Toy Story 3, and Despicable Me, surrender another 2 hours to see Nicolas Cage show off his magical side with The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Also, stay after the credits of the movie for a little extra treat for you. Trust me.



PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:



Nanny McPhee Returns


Alpha & Omega


Secretariat


MegaMind


Tangled


Tron: Legacy


The Smurfs Movie

REVIEW: The Karate Kid

MOVIE
The Karate Kid

CAST
Ralph Macchio,
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita

RATING
PG

RELEASE
June 22, 1984

DIRECTOR
John G. Avildsen

STUDIO
Columbia Pictures

RUNNING TIME
2 hours 6 minutes




GRADE
A+ (98)






STARS
****








REVIEW:

Remakes are so overrated, and this movie proves it! Daniel LaRusso and his mom are being relocated from Newark, NJ to Reseda, a San Fernando Valley district in the city of Los Angeles, California for Daniel's mom's job. Daniel of course is the new kid at school and doesn't know anybody. But then he meets the perfect girl, a rich girl who lives on the richer side of town. But on the same day, he meets the local bully who loves to pick on Daniel since Daniel's new crush, who's name is Ali is his ex-girlfriend. So with the help of the local maintenance man, Mr. Miyagi, he will be taught the arts of karate and make an truely unlikely bond unlike any other. This is one of the most realistic and inspirational movies I've ever seen in my life. I can relate to seeing kids being bullied at many other schools I've visited and how upsetting it is to see this horrible crime. I also thought that the chemistry with Daniel/Ali and Daniel/Mr. Miyagi were almost as real as everyday life. Especially with Daniel and Ali because everyday in school I see boys and girls sitting at lunch together, holding hands, hugging, etc. But the relationship between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi is just so pure to watch and so rare to see since films rarely have a relationship like this movie. This movie also is a movie the whole family can watch together, even though the new one might be a little more interesting to see, since it's currently in theaters. But if you haven't seen the new one yet, even though I think it's out of theaters already, watch this one and then make the comparison. Personally, I loved this one so much that it's now in my top 15 favorite movies of ALL time. So if you were a smart person or you just love 80s movies, then watch a true classic movie as you will meet the original Karate Kid.