Archive for May, 2011

Paramount Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Studios

Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, Ray Stevenson, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo

Odin (Anthony Hopkins) is the King of one of the nine realms, Asgard. He has two sons, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Loki is viewed as weak, but Thor is the opposite. Very arrogant, and over confident, Thor has no fear, and when he risks restarting an ancient war, he defies his father’s order and travels to the land of the Ice Giants. Upon his return, Thor is cast down to Earth as a mere mortal along with his infamous hammer. No one can remove the hammer until someone worthy is given the power of Thor. Meanwhile a group of scientists lead by Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) who is trying to discover the scientific meaning of the atmospheric disturbances that have been happening in the area. They rescue the human Thor and set out to right the wrongs, protect the 9 realms, and restore Thor to his rightful place in the sky.

Typically I am not a fan of comic book superhero stories, but this film is quite different. Mainly the mix of modern day Earth and the world of Asgard is very interesting. The CGI is stunning, and the action is fast and furious. The look of the film is awesome, especially in 3D. It is very well acted and well written. Chris Hemsworth looks fantastic as the superhero, Natalie Portman is delicious as his love interest, she was a perfect choice for this part scientist, part sweetheart role. Anthony Hopkins is wonderful as Odin. The cast is nearly perfect. The story is easy to follow and as I said, is extremely suspenseful and exciting. The fight sequences are awesome. I truly believe this is the start of a wonderful summer with the first really big movie of the season. If you’re a fan of superhero movies, this is certainly not one you’ll want to miss.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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Olympus Pictures, Blossom Films, Odd Lot Entertainment

Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller, Tammy Blanchard, Sandra Oh, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Tenney, Stephen Mailer, Mike Doyle

Rabbit Hole is the story of a couple Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) whose lives are turned upside down at the sudden death of their young son, Danny. They both are grieving in their own way. Howie wants to keep things the way they are. He wants to keep pictures of Danny around the house, watches videos of young Danny, and attends a group therapy session with other parents who have had similar losses. Becca on the other hand wants to wipe out everything that reminds her of Danny. She even wants to sell the house and move away so she is not reminded. Neither can understand the other feels and this puts a major strain on their relationship with each other. Things get worse and worse. Howie’s eye wanders to someone who can help him with the things Becca cannot give him in her state, and Becca sets up a meeting and a friendship with the person who killed her son which is really strange and kind of creepy and something Howie could never handle.

This is a very sad and deep introspective movie. The pacing is slow and we get to watch as these two lives fall apart piece by piece. It is an interesting question of whether, if the two grieved in the same way, that they would have gotten through it together, but this film takes a look a two people who handle it completely opposite of each other. This makes for a hopeless situation where there is no way for them to survive. As each tries to sabotage the other, they are also hurting themselves as much. By the time it comes to an end you will feel very sorry for both of them, realizing nobody is right, and nobody is wrong. It’s just different.

This is an intense movie, but it is pretty good. Nicole and Aaron do a pretty good job of bringing their character to life, and it is very interesting, even if it is sad and discouraging. No one should have to go through this, but when they do, they have to look at every aspect of life, love, religion, and simple right and wrong to figure out how to live through it.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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Movie Rentals Releasing Tuesday May 10, 2011


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Story Films

Andy Griffith, Paul Campbell, Doris Roberts, Marla Sokoloff, Liz Sheridan, Clint Howard, Rance Howard, Geoffrey Owens, Juliette Jeffers

This is the story of 3 guys. David Mitchell (Paul Campbell) is the son who sells cars for his grumpy Dad, Dick (Clint Howard). David is a player. He’s a real car salesman who can talk people into anything by playing the game. He treats the ladies the same way, but inside he’s a pretty good guy. He’s taking care of his grandpa, Joe (Andy Griffith) who lives in a nursing home and who wants to learn from David how to be a player and make it with the girls in the home. But David meets Julie Larabee (Marla Sokoloff) who steals his heart, but his player games makes it tough, as she can’t believe anything he says. In the end, it may be Grandpa Joe who is teaching David how to treat a girl.

This is kind of a cute film, but it is a little odd how they played it. It’s really a theatrical film, but it sounds like a Hallmark Channel made for TV film, except it’s surprisingly raunchy. It’s kind of uncomfortable watching Andy Griffith in this role, as he plays a sweet grandpa who gets involved in some nasty stuff! I understand Andy is a comedian, and a damn funny one, but he’s still Opie’s Dad and so this is just uncomfortable. The two stars are pretty well matched. Marla Sokoloff is really sweet and it’s easy to see why he fell for her. Meanwhile, Paul Campbell is perfect as a jerky manipulator who has a heart of gold and just needs to grow up. Doris Roberts is cool, as always, as Julie’s Grandma, and is a bit of a player herself. The interaction between her and Grandpa Joe is just hilarious.

So it’s not a terrible movie, but it is a little bit strange. Still it was worth watching as a Netflix Watch Instantly. I recommend it if you don’t mind a dose of saccharine mixed with some good hearted raunch. The ending is a bit of a surprise, then as Andy dances in during the credits for a little extra at the very end of the credits is fun.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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Ealing Studios, Fragile Films

Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Ben Chaplin, Rebecca Hall, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Caroline Goodall, Emilia Fox, Douglas Henshall, Fiona Shaw, Maryam d’Abo


London artist Basil Hallward (Ben Chaplin) paints a portrait of the young and handsome, if overly vain, Dorian Gray (Ben Barnes). Dorian is so taken with his own image that he declares he’d do anything to keep his looks, even if it meant selling his soul. His wish is granted, but as Dorian stays young as the day the painting was done, the painting itself takes on the ugliness in his soul. Dorian hides the painting away where no one can ever see it as it grows uglier and uglier by the day. Meanwhile Dorian stays on his path of greed and debauchery getting everything he wants while destroying everyone he meets. The one who enticed him down this path, Lord Henry Wotton (played by Colin Firth) later in life defends his daughter who is smitten with Dorian as he is with her, and in the exciting ending Dorian learns the cost of having no consequences to your actions. When he finally finds true love, it may be too late.

Based on the classic Oscar Wilde novel, this is one of many takes on the story. But it is a very good one and is available on Netflix “Watch Instantly”. It’s a Gothic Horror story set in the Victorian period in England, so the costumes and set decorations are wonderful. I remember seeing the 1973 Portrait of Dorian Gray in a movie theater in Manila without any knowledge of the book or the story. It was horrifying. It has been many, many years since that experience, and this one is a nice remake of the original. It is a very horrifying story, and is very well acted and the story is very chilling. For a classic Gothic horror night, this is a decent choice. It’s certainly something out of the ordinary and unexpected. Not for kids, this is rated R for a good reason. This is certainly a classic horror story.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

 

 

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