Ed's Review Dot Com

LD Entertainment, Fortress Features,

Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick, Lee Tergesen, Christopher McDonald, Shannon Kane, Tim Griffin, Andre Royo, Randall Archer, Johanna Braddy, Navi Rawat, Brandon Molale

Arkin (Josh Stewart) is held captive by an evil madman known as the Collector. He somehow manages to escape and is free of the house of horrors when he is kidnapped in the hospital by mercenaries hired by Elena’s (Emma Fitzpatrick) wealthy father who is paying them to rescue his daughter who is also being kept for “The Collection”. So Arkin has to go back into the house of horror and risk his life again to try to save Elena or die trying.

This movie is really gory and violent, and very bloody. It’s also pretty silly and a direct derivative of the Saw franchise. It’s nearly identical. The same premise of killing people in extremely gruesome manners that are highly technical and very unique is what Saw is all about. This movie is the exact same thing. But it’s not that scary, and really not worth the effort. If you’re a fan of the Saw series, there are so many of them, you might as well watch one of the originals. I just didn’t think this film was worth the time I spent watching it.

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Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures,

Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, James Badge Dale, Jon Favreau

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is back from the epic battle in New York with all the other Avengers. He seems to have grown a lot, and has changed. More introspective, he’s been busy building a whole bunch of new suits, and has probably become obsessed with keeping busy to ward off the increasing panic attacks he’s suffering from. But when an ultra villain “The Mandarin” (Ben Kingsley) takes over the worlds airways to teach the world leaders a lesson, he proves himself to be not only cunning and clever, but extremely tough too . It will take Iron Man, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), and all of their best stuff just to survive this massive battle.

I had the pleasure of dropping $45.00 for my wife and I to see this film in Imax 3D and D-Box. The Imax screen was awesome, the 3D effects were spectacular, and the D-Box (motion seats)…..eh..not so much. I’ve been anxious to try these out, and I can see one good thing about them. When the movie starts, nothing happens. The are still and silent and don’t move a speck. Then the first time there’s a loud noise on the screen they vibrate and by that time you’ve forgotten about them and they startle the hell out of you. But I’ve seen 3D magic motion movies in Vegas, Universal Studios, and Dave and Busters, and they show runaway train cars, roller coasters, and stuff like that that are really a thrill, but these chairs, though comfortable, are no big add to the action on the screen. They don’t move enough to give you any real sense of being in the film, and aside from a fairly decent back massage, they really aren’t that much. I would rather just turn them on, and let them vibrate continuously through the 2 hour film, and perhaps I’d come out without this aching back I’ve had all week. But enough about the chairs: On to the movie.

Robert Downey Jr. has Iron Man down pat now. Throughout the film I was pondering, is Iron Man the man, or is Iron Man the suit. Not in a literal way, but figuratively. There is an expression that “clothes make the man”. I wonder if that’s true in Stark’s case. But he’s tired, kind of like Bond has been in the last few films (especially Skyfall), and it shows how all the “world saving” has worn him out. He really has settled in pretty well. He really cares for Pepper, and he’s given up a lot of the shenanigans he was noted for. But when he’s needed, he’s ready to give all to save the world. And this time it really takes it out of him. The acting is excellent. Each of these characters knows who he is now, and they’re comfortable in their suit. Even Jarvis, the voice of the suit, is kind of like Kitt from Night Rider with his gentle voice and desire to help in whatever is needed. Perhaps he’s a little C3PO too without the yellow streak. I enjoyed this story very much. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that each Iron Film has gotten better and better, and this one has to be my favorite of the three. I can’t compete with The Avengers, of course, but of all the Tony Stark/Iron Man films, this has to be the best story, best explosions, best fight scenes, and the most fun to watch. Of course seeing it on an IMAX screen with 3D glasses helps a lot. But this is one exciting adventure film that does not disappoint. This is a must see on the big screen while you can.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

New in theaters this weekend Friday May 10, 2013

• The Great Gatsby
• Peeples
• Sightseers
• Venus and Serena
• Aftershock
• No One Lives
• Java Heat

Last Weeks top Box Office:

1 – Iron Man 3
2 – Pain & Gain
3 – 42
4 – Oblivion
5 – The Croods

Weinstein Company, The, Ghoulardi Film Company, Annapurna Pictures,

Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Laura Dern, Ambyr Childers, Rami Malek, Jesse Plemons, Kevin J. O’Connor, Christopher Evan Welch, Madisen Beaty,

This is the story of a returning WWII Naval veteran Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) who is not adjusting well to civilian life. He’s suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome although they really didn’t understand it back in those days. He is floating from day to day, drinking heavily, not really getting by. He runs into a religious cult headed by “The Master” Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and his wife Peggy (Amy Adams) and joins in with them. Dodd takes a special liking to him and he becomes one of the chosen followers, but all the pressure is a bit too much for Freddie to handle.

I really have a hard time placing a rating on this film For the most part, I didn’t really care for it a lot. But at the same time, I have to truly say it was masterfully done. Dodd’s character played by Hoffman is quite unlikeable, but it’s very well done. This reminds me of another of his films, the biography of Truman Capote “Capote” from 2006 which was another truly masterful award winning portrayal of a character I just didn’t like. Freddie on the other hand, is simple a jerk. He’s so unlikable, and is just an annoying loser. This also reminds me of Joaquin Phoenix’s film “I’m Still Here (2010) [Click here for Ed’s review] which was also a decent portrayal of an unlikable guy. So basically the cult isn’t really evil, and we don’t like any of the people in the movie, so you find yourself wondering why you’re spending the time watching something you’re not really enjoying. But like watching ballet or opera, it’s cultural, so you feel like you have to sit there and smile and nod or you’ll look like an uncouth ass. This is the way I felt in this movie, so I’m rating it a down the middle three stars because I appreciate the craft and the wonderful acting, but just didn’t care a whit about the story. I hope this all makes sense. I’m sure there are some people out there who got this, and loved The Master, but I wasn’t one of those. It was a little too pompous for my taste.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Mandalay Vision, Wind Dancer Productions, Detour Filmproduction,

Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Coleman, Richard Robichaux, Rick Dial,

Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) is a small Texas town mortician who is a very friendly guy. He makes friends with everyone with his mild and gentle demeanor, but especially the elderly ladies who flock to him. But he strikes up a close friendship with a mean old lonely widow who is the richest lady in town, and one whom everyone either hates or fears. But when she turns up missing, the sheriff (Matthew McConaughey) has his eyes on Bernie, but no one in town would believe anything but the very best of good old Bernie.

This is a very dark comedy, but done is a very light way. This is based on a true story, and just like all the townsfolk who can’t believe anything bad about Bernie, even though we know the truth, we can’t accept it either, and we keep waiting for the surprise ending to come. In the end, I guess it is a surprise at that. But this is done in the mockumentary style of so many other great jokester films, but yet it’s supposedly “mostly” true. The characters in this film are really good, and I think I’ve enjoyed Shirley MacLaine more in this film than I have in any of her films in a long time. She is really mean and funny at the same time. She does a great job and really shows her skills. The movie is really funny in a dark and twisted way, and not so much laugh out loud funny, but it runs at a high level of humor all the way through from start to finish. Even the discussion from the townsfolk as to whether Bernie is gay or not is never resolved and both sides have a good argument. Also good is Marjorie Nugent’s (Shirley MacLaine’s character) stock broker who is hilarious. He’s the most concerned about poor old Marjorie, but everyone simply believes he’s mad because he can’t get his hands on any more of her money now that she only trusts Bernie. That’s probably true. Available as a “Watch Instantly” film on NetFlix, this was a very pleasant surprise for me. I had no clue what to expect, but with the cast, I was willing to take a chance on it. I was really glad I did.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog