REVIEW: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

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Title: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG
Director: Michael Bay
Writer(s): Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman
Staring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Ramon Rodriguez, Autobots (voices), and Decepticon (voices)
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action violence, language, some crude and sexual material, and brief drug material.
Running Time: 150 min (2 hr and 30 min)
Synopsis: Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 1 Star
Michael Phillips: 1 ½ Stars
EW: Owen Gleiberman: B

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: Skip It, Ben Lyons: See It
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 20% (Rotten), Top Critics: 18% (Rotten), RT Community: 68% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 35 out of 100, Users: 6.0 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 38: (0.0% A, 11.5% B, 40.1% C, 37.0% D, and 10.7% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: C- Users: B+

My Review

Source Material: Based on the Transformers toys by Hasbro.
Acting and Dialogue: C: It lacked the cleverness of the first but there were a few one-liners that made me laugh. As far as the acting goes Megan Fox is the definition of eye candy but she a horrible actress.

Art Direction: B-: What makes this film art direction half way good is it visual effects.
Cinematography: B-: Some nice areal shoots and great visual effects

Direction: B: It’s a Michael Bay film so there everything “hot” in it including the following: fire (explosions), cars, and babes (Megan Fox). So it has everything for a summer blockbuster but some of the story aspects fall short.

Sound and Music: A: The sound track is good and score components the film. The sound design could very well be Oscar worthy again this year, like the first film.

VFX: A+: “More that meets the eye”

Overall: C+: There is more: robot on robot fighting, Autobots, Decepticon, action, transformations, visual stimuli, ect. These things are great but give me substance like story and acting.

Could Paramount + Sony OR Universal= Mega Studio?

Paramount Could Be Merging With Sony Or Universal

Discussion: What if Paramount Merged with Sony or Universal?

Are Studios Going to Start Consolidating?

Review: The Hangover

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Title: The Hangover
Distributor: Legendary Pictures (Warner Bros.)
Director: Todd Phillips
Writer(s): Jon Lucas (written by) & Scott Moore (written by)
Staring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha
MPAA Rating: Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.
Running Time: 100 min (1 hr and 40 min)
Synopsis: A Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 3 1/2 Stars
Michael Phillips: NA
EW: Owen Gleiberman: B

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: See It, Ben Lyons: See It
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 77% (Fresh), Top Critics: 79% (Fresh), RT Community: 85% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 73 out of 100, Users: 8.7 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 66: (16.6% A, 54.5% B, 17.2% C, 8.1% D, and 3.3% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: B Users: A

My Review

Source Material: An original written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore

Acting and Dialogue: A-: Funny and cleaver.

Art Direction: B-: A comedy with very little "art direction" but Vagas is pretty right

Cinematography: B: dido comment from the art direction section above. Nothing that was wow and amazing.

Direction: A: The pace was good and there was always a laugh around the corner.

Sound and Music: B: Decent sound track, some parts were lame but it was a comedy .

VFX: C: No VFX therefore, no comment.

Overall: B: Great addition to the "Stoner/ Drunk" Comedy genre. I laugh through out and I think most any guy over 18 would too.Not a movie for the moral just look at the rating...Rated R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material. The setting is Vagas and the film displays Sin City very well., if you know what I mean.

Review: UP

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Title: Up
Distributor: Pixar
Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson (co-director)
Writer(s): Bob Peterson (screenplay) and, Pete Docter (screenplay)
Staring: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, Jordan Nagai, Bob Peterson
MPAA Rating: Rated PG for some peril and action.
Running Time: 96 min (1 hr and 36 min)
Synopsis: By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn't alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip.

Other Reviews

Critics:

Roger Ebert: 4 Stars
Michael Phillips: 4 Stars
EW: Lisa Schwarzbaum: A

Other Sites:

At The Movies: Ben Mankiewicz: See It, Ben Lyons: See It
Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 98% (Fresh), Top Critics: 94% (Fresh), RT Community: 83% (Fresh)
Metacritic: Critics: 88 out of 100, Users: 9.2 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 86: (57.5% A, 38.5% B, 3.9% C, 0.0% D, and 0.0% F)
Yahoo Movies: Critics: A- Users: A

My Review

Source Material: An original written by Bob Peterson and Pete Docter

Acting and Dialogue: A: Great for the whole family. The voice actor did great also.

Art Direction: A+: Beautiful animation and even better in 3D.

Cinematography: A+: Best of animated cinematography, the realization was spectacular.

Direction: A: The opening 12-15min is probably best opening I have seen not only in an animation feature but in a motion picture period. That greatness run through out the entire film.

Sound and Music: A: Love the score; gets stuck in my head, humming it now by the way.

VFX: A+: Great animation…. What do you expect it is Pixar?

Overall: A: The only other animation film to come out this year that will give Up a run for it’s money at the Oscars is “9” It is just an over all great movie. A movie for all ages.

The Filmmaker's

GUS VAN SANT

24 July 1952, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

If I were looking for an indie picture to rent and watch, I would most likely watch a Gus Van Sant movie. The first movie I saw of his was an HBO movie called, Elephant. I have graduated from that to his most well known film, Good Will Hunting. Not to long ago I got a chance to watch his film titled, Paranoid Park. He recently has made a film about real life Politian Harvey Milk, called well, Milk. I have not seen this movie but I am sure it is just as good as the others I have seen, since it has won 2 Oscars. Gus Van Sant has made a great impact on the indie circuit and I hope he continues to do so.

Biography

Filmography

They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?

The Filmmaker's

STEVEN SPIELBERG

18 December 1946, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Spielberg is synonymous with filmmaking. If I were asked a random group of people on the street to name one movie director, I bet Steven Spielberg’s name would come up ninety percent of the time. Spielberg should be in the top ten best directors/ filmmakers of all time on anyone’s list. Spielberg went from being a kid wondering the backlot of Universal Studios to “King of Filmmaking.” As of late Spielberg spends most of his time as executive producer on films like Transformers, Eagle Eye, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. That is only the tip of the iceberg, Spielberg’s filmography extends past that with him been apart of more than 150 productions.

Biography

Filmography

They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?

The Filmmaker's

KEVIN SMITH

2 August 1970, Red Bank, New Jersey, USA

Kevin Simth is known for films in the View Askew universe, known as “View Askewniverse.” The Kevin Smith films in the View Askewniverse are: Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Clerks II. He has made a great conurbation to world of comedy including other films not in the View Askewniverse, like Zack and Miri Make a Porno. I will continue to laugh at Kevin Smith’s art, as long as he still produces great comedies.

Biography

Filmography

They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They?