REVIEW: We Bought A Zoo

MOVIE

We Bought A Zoo

CAST

Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson

RATING

PG

RELEASE
December 23, 2011

DIRECTOR
Cameron Crowe

STUDIO
20th Century Fox

RUNNING TIME
2 hours 4 minutes





STARS
***1/2











REVIEW:

Cameron Crowe, the director of films like 'Jerry Maguire' and 'Almost Famous' has made a family movie about a one father's dream to give his kids an authentic American experience by purchasing and running a zoo. At first it may seem like a crazy idea, especially considering the fact that Matt Damon is the star of this film aimed for kids 8 and older. Luckily this is one of those rare occasions where the odd combinations of adult filmmakers/stars that are put into a family film make something magical. 'We Bought A Zoo' is a great film for families and teens alike. There is sweet-as-corn comedy, heavy/believable drama, and a charm that pulls you in by the end of the first hour.  Everything about this film makes you feel warm inside, yet also makes you teary eyed during some of the dramatic moments. This film is coming out around Christmas time, and has some pretty heavy competition from kids films like 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked' and 'The Adventures of Tintin.' Luckily it probably will gain some strong word of mouth from audiences who attended the special November 26 sneak preview screening which will help boost ticket sales. If your family can't find a single good movie out when Christmas arrives, then 'We Bought A Zoo' is the perfect ticket to spend money on.

Everyone in this movie is at their A-game here. Matt Damon plays the father figure of this film very well, knowing when to bring in harmless comedy and when to really be ticked off at his 14 year old son, played by the equally great young actor Colin Ford. The chemistry of the father and son stings of electric friction throughout the movie, but luckily brings it down to a mellow sunset towards the final 25 minutes. Scarlett Johansson I would say is the least intriguing of the all-star cast, but she is still a very good love interest to Damon. The best actors/actresses of the film all come from the surprisingly stellar supporting cast.

Thomas Haden Church is simply hilariously awesome as Damon's divorced brother. Church is the true comedic relief in this movie, with almost every single bit of dialogue shed by him resulted in my screening's audience bursting into laughter. A personal favorite character of the movie is Matt Damon's daughter, played by the sweet, charming, and hilarious newcomer Maggie Elizabeth Jones. She has some of the best lines in the entire flick, as well as the clichéd job of saying the film's title about two times. (Damon says it in the second to last scene) Elle Fanning is great as always playing Lily, the love interest of Colin Ford. While she isn't as tough as she was in 'Super 8,' Fanning brings a sweet girl-next-door type of character whose innocence really gives off a charm to the story. John Michael Higgins is a great and very funny villain as the snooty inspector that has no faith in the zoo at all. Everyone else in the film, while their parts are small, all add something special to this wonderful movie.

Cameron Crowe has made a very personal story with this film, despite the events in the movie actually based off of Benjamin Mee's real life purchase of the Dartmoor Zoological Park in South West England. Crowe actually co-wrote the script with ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, so it’s actually proven right there that he really brought this story home. And why wouldn’t he? The cast all play their parts perfectly, with Damon and Church possibly being able to get Actor and Supporting Actor nominations if the Academy really looks at this film throughout the month of December. Those with heavy hearts may shed a few tears because of the fights Damon and Ford have with each other throughout the two hour running time. While this is being advertised as a family film, I would say leave the kids 6 and younger home mainly because of the intensity of some of the situations. (plus the fact that your kids would find out that the Easter Bunny doesn't exist.)

It's going to be very interesting in seeing how well this movie does during the Christmas season because of all of the competition coming out during that week. However since some of the holiday films have a large chance of disappointing audiences upon release, this may be the best film to check out. Sure it’s a mostly clichéd Hollywood story, plus they say the title of the film in the script three times, but this movie is solid entertainment. Overall, 'We Bought A Zoo' is a charming, funny, and seriously fantastic film that deserves at least some award consideration. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go give my dog a great big bear hug. Oh yes ladies and gentlemen, this IS one of those movies.


 

   



PREVIEWS I DOUBT YOU'LL SEE
WHEN THIS MOVIE OPENS:

Extremely Loud
and Incredibly Close


A Thousand Words

REWIND REVIEW: Caddyshack

MOVIE
Caddyshack

CAST
Chevy Chase,
Rodney Dangerfield

RATING
R

RELEASE
July 25, 1980

DIRECTOR
Harold Ramis

STUDIO
Warner Bros. Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 38 minutes






STARS
***










REVIEW:

Well this may come as a shock to some, but I have never seen the 1980 golf comedy 'Caddyshack' before. Not that it was my parents fault or anything. Actually it kind of was their fault, as it was the MPAA's fault for rating this movie "R." It wasn't until two weeks ago that my parents actually bought the DVD of it, along with two other "R" films, to let me check out for my own teenage viewing experience. Getting back to the film, 'Caddyshack' has been considered by many to be the greatest sports comedy of all time. The question that is presented here is, does this 14 going on 15 year old care for this comedy classic. I want to start that off by saying that in my opinion 'Caddyshack' is NOT the greatest sports comedy of all time. I even don't think it's the greatest golf comedy of all time. ('Happy Gilmore' holds that special title in my heart) Before people get all snippy with me about this, I want to point out that I think 'Caddyshack' is a very funny movie. With all of the racist jokes, screwball factors, and (giggitty) ladies in this film, 'Caddyshack' is a film for any man's fantasies. I would probably tolerate watching it again, but it surely wasn't a perfect comedy.

The thing I was really disappointed about came from the actors. Sure their comedic timing was spot on in many of the scenes, but I want to let you know now that every big star on the DVD cover of this movie is just a supporting player. Chevy Chase in my opinion is one of the funniest comedians to ever walk the Earth, so it made me sad to see him in this movie for just over half of it. Even Rodney Dangerfield was in it for about 30-40 minutes. Luckily Bill Murray, another favorite comedian of mine, was able to deliver the movie's best scenes when he's stopping at nothing to catch the dancing gopher in the ground. The real story of the film revolves around this teenager who's trying to get into college but doesn't have the money for it. This story of course all goes cliché with some evil old dude trying to sabotage Dangerfield's plan to change up the Country Club and keep it in control. The kid is Michael O'Keefe and the old asshole is Ted Knight. I felt that this story was both unnecessary and stupid in what could have been about a bunch of old guys in a country club. Is it too much to ask for three of the 80's funniest men to have more prominent roles in a comedy? There was one advantage to the Knight/O'Keefe story, and that is Cindy Morgan. Giggitty Giggitty Goo!

For all of the concerned parents out there who aren't sure about letting their teenager see 'Caddyshack' because of its "R" rating, just let them watch the movie. There's nothing wrong in it, other than one small "f**k" and some sets of boobs that are shown in the middle of the flick. Really there is no reason in today's standards that this should be an "R," unless the MPAA is still strong on boobs in a PG-13 flick. If I were to rate it, I would give it a good PG-13 for language, sexual content, and nudity. Classics like 'Airplane!' and 'Titanic' are able to pull off a PG and PG-13 when showing boobs, so why couldn't this? Parents, please don't worry about your kids knowing too much about sex before college, because I, a freshman in High School, am learning about abstinence, the types of sexual pleasures, etc. This is a perfectly fine movie for kids 13 and up, though I don't know how scarred they'd be if they were watching it with a parent or grandparent.

Is 'Caddyshack' a funny movie? Absolutely. Are Bill Murray and the Dancing Gopher the best characters in the movie? Hell yes! Should 'Caddyshack' be considered one of the funniest movies of all time? I don't think so. It has funny moments without a doubt, but the lack of screen time for the comedy legends is very dismal, and the main story bored me quite a bit. For the "classic" that it is, I'd say check out 'Caddyshack' if you can. You will laugh, and your teenage son or daughter will also laugh a couple of times. I wish that this movie could have been raunchier and had more jokes, rather than this version which I swear to you feels "TV edited" compared to the stuff that's thrown at us these days, like 'The Hangover' and 'Bridesmaids.' Overall, 'Caddyshack' is a good comedy that didn't fully satisfy my comedic appetite. I hope I can watch this movie in 10-15 years and find more out of it. For now, I'll just leave it at saying 'Caddyshack' is good, but not a classic by any means.

REVIEW: The Adventures of Tintin 3D

MOVIE
The Adventures of Tintin

CAST
Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis

RATING
PG

RELEASE
December 21, 2011

DIRECTOR
Steven Spielberg

STUDIO(S)
Paramount Pictures,
Columbia Pictures

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 47 minutes






STARS
***1/2









REVIEW:

The last time Steven Spielberg brought a directorial project to the big screen was 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull' back in 2008. I'm one of the few that enjoyed 'Indy 4,' but others loathed it so much that Spielberg himself apologized for it. Three years later, the director of classic films like 'E.T.' and 'Close Encounters' is bringing an old Belgium comic book to theaters in spectacular 3D/motion capture fashion. This series was called 'The Adventures of Tintin,' and this film goes under the same name. This series of books is extremely popular in many parts of the world, but it really never got its way around here to the US. In fact, Spielberg was notified about the 'Tintin' books when a reviewer of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' back in 1981 compared 'Raiders' to 'Tintin.' So 30 years have passed since then, and Spielberg is finally bringing 'Tintin' to the States.

This movie has been playing in every other part of the world for about two months, so the question is if it can do solid business here in America and be enjoyed by those who have never even heard of this series before. The answer to that question is yes, it will be enjoyed by Americans. Sure this isn't among Spielberg's many classic movies, but it is still an enjoyable and fun ride that will have people laughing, thinking, and staring in awe at the spectacular 3D. 'The Adventures of Tintin' may not be the best animated movie of 2011, but it sure is one of the better Spielberg movies of the 21st century. Note to George Lucas, this is what 'Indy 4' should have been.

Tintin is a British newspaper reporter/crime solver with his loyal dog Snowy always at his side. One day at a flea market or something, Tintin comes across a mysterious ship called "The Unicorn" and he decides to buy it, despite warnings and offers from two different strangers. All of the sudden Tintin gets whisked away from his normal life and into the hands of a madman who for some reason is looking for other versions of this ship. Apparently there was a treasure hidden in "The Unicorn" for centuries and the clues to find it are in these mysterious ships, so Tintin sets out on a worldwide exploration to find the treasure and discover the quote on quote "Secret of the Unicorn." Tintin is accompanied also by Captain Haddock, a drunken captain who knows more about "The Unicorn" than he even realizes.

Motion Capture hasn't exactly been perfected to the fullest yet. Robert Zemekis started using it with all of his most recent films, like 'The Polar Express' and 'Monster House.' Unfortunately the technology eventually bit Zemekis on the butt after the 2011 stinker 'Mars Needs Moms' failed to resonate with anyone. In fact, the only times in the past decade where motion capture was used to perfection had Andy Serkis playing a role wearing the motion capture suit during filming. 'Avatar' was also able to revolutionize both the 3D and motion capture technology back in late 2009. Spielberg made a very smart choice using motion capture because he could both shoot the film as if it was a regular adventure movie, and recreate Herge's drawings to make them look true to the comics. It's because of today's technology that this film thrives with vibrant colors and eye popping visuals. Spielberg was also smart to shoot this movie in 3D. While sometimes the movie looks flat and more like a 2D film than 3D, that is all made up for in the action scenes and landscape shots that suck you into this magical world that only a true artist can think of. You don't have to experience 'Tintin' in 3D, but you won't be disappointed if you do.

A motion capture movie involves more than just an actor recording sound from a microphone. Really what happens is that the actor/actress playing a character has to put on a special suit and get green dots glued to their face, and they act out what a character is doing as if they were filming a live action movie. In order to perfectly execute this, you need the right cast of actors to pull off the part. Jamie Bell, who's most notably known for his child role in the film 'Billy Elliot,' plays Tintin. Bell is great playing Tintin, knowing to have the optimism of any great adventurer and the mind of any great crime solver. Even though you can barely recognize Bell because he looks exactly like Tintin, there is nobody out there in this day in age that could possibly play Tintin. The same goes for Captain Haddock, played by the motion capture master Andy Serkis.

Serkis is on a ball this year, even still getting Oscar buzz for his portrayal of Ceaser in 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes.'  With Haddock, Serkis is able to play something I don't think we've seen him as before: a likeable, drunken ship captain.  The combination of the talented Serkis, the magic of motion-capture, and the personality of a hardcore drunk (Jack Sparrow, anyone?) alone guarantees an awesome time thanks to an extraordinary actor.  Daniel Craig plays the antagonist of the film Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine, and he's good I guess.  Sure he was a cool villain, but there was just something about Craig's performance that didn't fully suck me into his character.  I did want to see more of the Simon Pegg/Nick Frost bumbling duo Thomson and Thompson, who had screen time for 10-15 minutes.  Still they had their moment and they did what they had to do, so I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.

People everywhere have been having many problems with the storyline, which involves things like vengeance, pirates, and ancestry.  Honestly, I didn't mind it at all.  The purpose of the story is to turn your brain off and just enjoy the ride. I get that the story was very clichéd and predictable, but adventure movies are supposed to be clichéd and predictable. The writers of the screenplay are Steven Moffat, (first time film screenwriter) Edgar Wright, (director of 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World') and Joe Cornish. (director of 'Attack the Block') While the script could have dazzled us more like Wright and Cornish's previous films have, but they do help make the film a lot of fun, and something we've never really seen before. To the fans of Wright and Cornish's previous movies, the closest thing you'll get to their style of filmmaking is a twisted mirage scene taking place in the desert, which by the way looked awesome in 3D.

While this animated epic isn't in the leagues of 'Raiders' or 'Jaws,' 'Tintin' is certainly better than 'Indy 4' and 'Hook.' The cast is perfectly cast, the story had its moments but was still fun, and the 3D was good but passable. It's going to be very interesting to see how well this movie is received here in the US, because I doubt many kids in the country know who or what 'Tintin' is. Sure it may appeal to kids and adults, but the question that lies is: will this film make any money here? I think that if families are interested enough, then this will do decent business here. The only warning I'd give to parents is that kids under 9 are bound to squirm in their seat once or twice. Still, this is a fast, fun, and sleek family movie that could be the perfect introduction to 'Indiana Jones' for kids. There are talks of a sequel to this film if Paramount and Sony get their budget back and more. Well they already got the budget back from the rest of the world, so put me on board for a sequel to this flick. 'Tintin' is a fun movie, so check it out with your friends or family and have yourself a great time when you travel into timeless Europe.

REVIEW: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

MOVIE
Sherlock Holmes:
A Game of Shadows

CAST
Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law

RATING
PG-13

RELEASE
December 16, 2011

DIRECTOR
Guy Ritchie

STUDIO
Warner Bros. Pictures

RUNNING TIME
2 hours 9 minutes





STARS
***








REVIEW:

Who would have thought that 'Sherlock Homes' would get a sequel? I didn't think that at all, but I'm sure glad Warner Brothers decided to bring Robert Downey Jr. back into the iconic role that really helped Downey become a superstar again. Jude Law and Rachel McAdams (in a 10 minute role) both return for more action and more wittiness from the genius/notorious detective. This time, we have Noomi Rapace (the original Lisbeth Salander) in her first English role, and Jared Harris as Holmes' most notable nemesis, Professor James Moriarty. Being a fan of the 2009 film, I was more than excited to see what director Guy Ritchie could do next. Unfortunately, the turnout here is that 'A Game of Shadows' is not as good as the original, despite some solid acting, cool action scenes, and a fantastic final 10 minutes. 'Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows' is a disappointing sequel, but it is still solid fun.

The best part of the 'Sherlock Holmes' films will always be Robert Downey Jr. Like Tony Stark in the 'Iron Man' films, Holmes is a narcissistic genius who only wants to defend the world from evil madmen. Anyone could have made Sherlock a kooky yet brilliant investigator, but Downey brings it up to the next level with some very funny jokes, a "let's get going" attitude, and a charisma that keeps both audience members and the characters in the film on board. Nobody has played Sherlock better in years. Jude Law is also good as the loyal but annoyed as hell Dr. Watson. Watson may just be the faithful sidekick to the much more interesting Holmes, but the writers of the script have made Law's Watson an awesome partner in crime who's involved in a spectacular action sequence on a train. Rachel McAdams also returns for the film's opening 10 minutes, but is disposed of seconds before the film's title shows up on screen. McAdams was actually pretty good in the first, so it's sad how she is barely used in this film at all. Luckily, the series' newcomers are very good and a true surprise.

I have never seen the Swedish 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' film, nor have I seen the entire trilogy or will be seeing the David Fincher adaptation. With that said, it should probably be guessed that I have never seen a film with Noomi Rapace in it, since this is her first English speaking role. Rapace plays a gypsy who may have the answer to Moriarty's evil plot. While she's not as exciting and fun as McAdams was in the 2009 film, Rapace is fun and cool with some decent acting chops and a badass action persona. The same goes with Jared Harris' James Moriarty, who is basically the exact opposite of Holmes, but equal in every way. Harris is not as cool and mysterious as Mark Strong's character Lord Blackwood; Moriarty is a much more devious character who is so intriguing that even his conversations with Holmes can send chills up your spine. The female sidekick and villain may not be as good as the ones in the 2009 movie, but Noomi Rapace and Jared Harris own their characters enough to be acceptable successors.

There isn't much of a plot in this film at all. If there was, then I didn't quite understand it very well. The summary of this film is the following: confusion, explosions, intrigue, and Robert Downey Jr. I wish there was more of a story in 'A Game of Shadows,' but this is a fun enough sequel to check out on the big screen. The visuals are spectacular as they should be in a big budget Hollywood film, especially in one scene involving the three main leads running through the woods. I know people who liked this new one much more than the first one, but I also have friends who saw this one and prefer the first one over the new one. Still, this is a fun big screen popcorn flick that will have people begging for more. Plus a new trailer for 'The Dark Knight Rises' is shown before every print of this film, so that's always awesome. (The 7 minute prologue is shown with the IMAX release of 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, not this film sadly)






PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:

The Grey


 John Carter


The Hunger Games


Battleship


Men in Black 3


Rock of Ages


Jack The Giant Killer


The Dark Knight Rises

REVIEW: Hugo 3D

MOVIE
Hugo

CAST
Asa Butterfield,
Chloë Grace Moretz

RATING
PG

RELEASE
November 23, 2011 (LIMITED)

DIRECTOR
Martin Scorsese

STUDIO
Paramount Pictures

RUNNING TIME
2 hours 6 minutes





STARS
****








REVIEW:

There is a character in Martin Scorsese's new 3D kid flick 'Hugo' that says "movies are where dreams come to life." I've never thought about film that way before, but I now believe that statement after seeing this movie. 'Hugo,' based on the 2007 children's novel 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret,' tells the story of a young orphan named Hugo who runs the clocks in a French train station. His father died in a fire, and his uncle is a drunk, so he's basically living alone. Hugo's father had found a mechanical figure called an automaton prior to his death, and Hugo believes that this machine has a message from his father inside. Things get more complicated for the boy as he stumbles into the life of a cranky toy shop owner with secrets of his own, and his courageous goddaughter whose only desire in life is to go on an adventure. The experience I had with the film was the equivalent of a kid's first trip to the circus. 'Hugo' is pure cinema magic, with the pixie dust to this high flying spectacle of a fairy tale added by everyone and everything in this film, especially the immersive 3D.

Scorsese really knows how to make a film with an incredible cast in mind. Everybody in this movie play their parts of both comedy and drama flawlessly. Asa Butterfield, the young title character, is magnificent showing both the trauma and joy of being a young kid with a big mind. His kid co-star Chloe Moretz of the movie 'Kick Ass' is amazing as she always is. Moretz's character Isabelle resembles that adventurous side in all of us that wants to break out and try something new, and I love to see that in these types of films. The true acting chops in the film belong to the legendary Ben Kingsley, who's portrayal of the toy shop owner/ supposedly forgotten filmmaker Georges Méliès is highly worthy of a Supporting Actor nomination, maybe even a win this year.

The true surprise of the cast to me came from a man who has never been afraid to expose everything he's got. Sacha Baron Cohen delivers the best performance of his career as the bumbling yet devious station inspector who has a knack for finding orphaned children and sending them, well, to the orphanage. He may be bumbling and falling over to make little kiddies laugh, but Scorsese made a very smart decision casting him as this character. The rest of the small parted yet amazing supporting cast, including Emily Mortimer and Christopher Lee are all great for the parts they play, which sadly are very small for how huge of actors they are. The cast adds a whole new dimension to what could have been a slapstick dud by Mr. Scorsese, metaphorically just like how the 3D does.

3D hasn't been used so perfectly since the one that started it all: 'Avatar.' Come to think of it, this movie has better use of 3D than the landmark James Cameron flick ever did. At first 3D was supposed to be an experience when things pop out of the screen and into your eyes. Now these days Hollywood has treated it as a gimmick, filming almost anything in the third dimension whether it's necessary or not. Scorsese was smart to shoot this film in 3D because the audience is able to get themselves sucked into this fantastic world of fun and terror, despite the occasional object that flies at the audience. 3D is supposed to swallow you into the world you paid $20 to see, and this movie not only does that, but makes you believe that you are there with Hugo. I swear to you that 'Hugo' is something you have to see in 3D, despite having to shell out a few extra dollars for the goofy glasses. If you check this movie out in 2D, you will not have the same experience as you would in 3D.

'Hugo' is a triumphant 3D family flick with adults and cinephiles probably liking it more than younger audiences. The little ones will be entertained by the slapstick humor of Baron Cohen, as well as the side story between an older couple and a tiny dog. Adults and cinephiles will be entertained by the film's huge heart and Kingsley's magnificent and somewhat heartbreaking portrayal of Georges Méliès. Anyone else who is over the age of 10 will enjoy this movie because inn some ways they can relate to any of the characters in this movie. You could be an adult like boy who can take care of yourself like Hugo, or you can be a sheltered person who wants to seek adventure like Isabelle. Whatever age you are, you shall find something to like in this film.

'Hugo' is more than just a family film: it's a film for everyone. Take your friends; take your family; take that neighbor down the street who you really don't care for that much. 'Hugo' deserves a larger audience than it's currently receiving, and I hope that families/adults find this movie somewhere during the holidays and check it out. For the true cinephiles out there in the world, do a double feature with this (in 3D!) and 'The Artist.' Two movies about the history of cinema: the greatest movie theater experience you may ever have when it comes to knowing something about really old films.





PREVIEWS YOU MAY SEE:

The Adventures of Tintin


Star Wars Episode I:
The Phantom Menace 3D


The Lorax


The Pirates: Band of Misfits


Titanic 3D


The Amazing Spider-Man