The Best Movies for This Month

For the Month of May:

National: Iron Man or Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indies: Reprise
Comedy: What Happens in Vegas
Family: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Reminder June: Movies I Recommend To See In 2008

Number Ones for June:
National: The Happening, The Incredible Hulk, or Wanted
Indies: Mongol
Comedy: Get Smart
Family: WALL•E or Kung Fu Panda

UPDATE: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Review

I disappointed with what the Two Thumbs down from Ebert (Michael Phillips) and Roeper. There is one thing I have to say to Roeper this movie is spouse to me more fighting then magic, as for Phillips I never like his reviews ever most of the time negative. This week I say don't listen to the critics.

Review The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Synopsis: "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" was the second book published of the seven books in the series. It is numbered Book 4 in recent editions because it is the fourth chronologically. It takes place about 1,300 years after the events of "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe," which was the first published book (second in order chronologically--only "The Magician's Nephew" takes place earlier.) In London, only one year passes between the events of "The Lion" and "Prince Caspian," MORE AT: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499448/synopsis

Other Reviews:

Ebert & Roeper: N/A (Due out on Tuesday, May 20, 2008) http://kplusb.org/ebertroeper/
Fandango: 4 Oh No, 5 No, 14 So-So, 44 Go, 93 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 68% (Fresh), Top Critics: 66% (Fresh), RT Community: 74% (Fresh)
Yahoo Movies: Critic: B- Users: A-

My Review: The real question here is dose it hold true to the book and convey the message that C.S.Lewis was trying to say in his writings. I going to say yes, but I also believe that it is more than just a yes. There are add scene from the book, some would say that this is rapping the books material. I would disagree, that’s how C.S.Lewis wanted; he was very vague in his writings leaving the hairy detail to the reader’s imagination. In this the case, the imaginations at stake is Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely. There job it to create an adaption witch closely resembles what the fans remember from the book, in my opinion they achieved this beautifully. I also believe that the add scenes are not only the imagination of the production team, but a symbolic way to show what the characters are going through at that particular time in the film. This is one of the many ways to express what is going on inside of a characters head. The other issue that rises from people when talking about the Narnia films is it comparison to The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Lord of the Rings trilogy can’t be properly compared to the Narnia films because it is like comparing apples and oranges. They are both fruits likewise both movies are fantasy that take place in far way [make believe] lands. Lord of the Rings is more of a young adult to adult movie with a thick and complex storyline while Narnia is for children and per-teens with a simple shiny storyline that gives hope to the audience. Both films are meant to have Christian undertones because both men who wrote the stories were Christian .I might add that Lewis and Tolkien were great friends and colleagues, so their ideals are on the same page. Lord of the Ring may have its glory with its twelve odd some Academy Awards but Narnia holds deeply in the harts of fans. Personally, Narnia draws me closer to my faith then Lord of the Rings, therefore I would chose Narnia over Lord of the Rings, even thought Lord of the Ring would be place in my top ten movies of all time were as Narnia just miss the mark. So what do you choose a red shiny apple or a dull orange that has pouches of juice in the inside?

Speed Racer Review

Synopsis: The story begins with Speed Racer who is a young man with natural racing instincts whose goal is to win The Crucible, a cross-country car racing rally that took the life of his older brother, Rex Racer. Speed is loyal to the family business, run by his parents Pops and Mom. Pops designed Speed's car, the Mach 5. The owner of Royalton Industries makes Speed a lucrative offer, Speed rejects the offer, angering the owner. Speed also uncovers a secret that top corporate interests, including Royalton, are fixing races and cheating to gain profit. With the offer to Speed denied, Royalton wants to ensure that Speed will not win races. Speed finds support from his parents and his girlfriend Trixie and enters The Crucible in a partnership with his one-time rival, Racer X, seeking to rescue his family's business and the racing sport itself.

Other Reviews:

Ebert & Roeper: Two Thumbs Up
Fandango: 64 Oh No, 39 No, 132 So-So, 259 Go, 304 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 35% (Rotten), Top Critics: 31% (Rotten), RT Community: 78% (Fresh)
Yahoo Movies: Critic: C Users: B

My Review: It is a very entertaining movie. There is a lot of cheese factor but the main characters name is Speed Racer, that and anime was kind of cheesy in the first place. Between the flash colors and anime type of sound effects there is a good plot. Fans of Speed Racer will be drawn to this film like fat kids on cake. I watch it mainly because of Wachowski brothers; it seems that whatever they touch turn to gold. Could they be the next Coen Brother or even the comic genius of the Farrelly brothers? They enter a long list of great list of brother directors like the Zucker brothers and the Scott brothers

Sequel Rant

I like sequels as much as any other person. Most people would like their sequels to at least top the first one. Some would be ok with an expansion of the universe while at same time keeping the film’s quality at the level of the first. For me it goes deeper, I am more of a production guy. I like to see the same principle cast and crew to be the same. I know some actors don’t want to be type casted or remembered as a certain character but I look at it as a constant job. I am not saying to sell out and only do that one character but I don’t like this altitude “I won’t do another …” but they do it anyways just because the producers place another zero on the end of their paycheck. I think actors in those type situations should have an altitude like Hugh Jackman or Robert Downing Jr. They both have mention in some way or another that they will be willing to play their superhero counter parts for next 50 years. I like how they want to keep the Marvel universe a live and less confusing. If there was a new actor every time then the question becomes who was better. Besides age and death filmmaker shouldn’t have to replace them or another character that could or will be turned into a franchise.

As for the production team the top three people who shouldn't get changed from one film to another is the director, producer, and writer(s). Sometime changing a director might no be all bad. I don’t think it has effect the Harry Potter movies. Chris Columbus basically directed the first three; I say this because he directed the first two and produced the third which still gave him some power/ creative freedom, then two other: Alfonso Cuaron, and Mike Newell, then a new guy to finish off the series, David Yates. It really is just three directors when you think about it or should I say three and ½. For other series it is a bad idea to change the director. Let’s take X-Men for example, Bryan Singer directed the first two then decided to do Superman Returns instead of X-Man 3. Brett Ratner took over and in my opinion ruined the film. Brett Ratner seams like the step in guy not that great of a director. His career consist of the three Rush Hours and Red Dragon, there are other but there not as important. How many three films have been messed up because of a new director? Here is another example of the three movies being worst because of a new director: Jurassic Park: Steven Spielberg (first two) vs. Joe Johnston (third and in talks to do fourth). In this case it might be because the third movie wasn’t based on a book.

Box Offic Updates

1. Iron Man
2. Made of Horror
3. Baby Mama
4. Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

for more info visit http://www.boxofficemojo.com

Review: IRON MAN

Synopsis: Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is the CEO of Stark Industries which produces advance weapon systems for the U.S. military. Tony's father started the company after WWII, and after his death Tony inherited the company, worth billions. Tony lives the life as a hard drinking, rich playboy ladies man, but he is also a genius who has invented many high-tech items for the company. Tony flies to Afghanistan to demonstrate a new weapons test to the United States Air Force. On his way back to his plane, his convoy is attacked by terrorists, and Tony is wounded by a Stark Industries missile. Tony is captured and held hostage in a cave with Yinsen (Shaun Toub), a doctor who saves his life. The terrorists force Tony and Yinsen to reproduce the new destructive Jericho missile Tony was demonstrating from parts of other weapons. Instead, Tony decides to build a suit of armor with Yinsen's help. The suit gives Tony the strength and protection to be able to escape the terrorists. Back in America, Tony builds a better suit of armor which gives him superhuman strength with the ability to fly. With the help of his personal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and Air Force Lieut. Colonel Jim Rhodes (Terrence Howard), Tony vows to protect the world as Iron Man.

Other Reviews:

Ebert & Roeper: Two Thumbs Up
Fandango: 29 Oh No, 9 No, 87 So-So, 975 Go, 5794 Must Go
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 93% (Fresh), Top Critics: 91% (Fresh), RT Community: 93% (Fresh)
Yahoo Movies: Critic: B+ Users: A-

My Review: It is a little too late for this because most of you have already seen it. For those who read this blog and have not seen this movie yet, I say see it. If you don’t like I am sorry. I like it a lot and everybody I know liked it just as much as I did. Even most of the critics liked it. It is by far one of the best comic book movies. It has defiantly has set the bar for summer movies.