Quick Shots 10

Title: Grown Ups

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Maya Rudolph, Maria Bello

Brief Synopsis: A group of friends reunite at a camp on the lake after their basketball coach passes away. A lot has changed with the friends over time - and some start to realize that they may have not changed for the better.

Opinion: As much as I heard this film get blasted, I have to say I actually enjoyed it. Is it amazing? Absolutely not, but it was pretty good and I definitely laughed out loud a handful of times. Sometimes the actors do play out a joke a little too far, but there were enough to make this an alright film.

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Title: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Starring: Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Brandon Routh, Chris Evans

Brief Synopsis: Pilgrim (Cera) plays in a band that is looking to make it big. He also happens to fall in love with Ramona Flowers (Winstead). Little does he know that in order to date Flowers he must defeat her seven evil exes.

Opinion: I loved it. Wasn't sure how everything would play out, but it was done really well. Kieran Culkin as Cera's gay roommate was amazing, and each of the seven evil exes battles was done really well. I loved the video game aspect - just done really well.

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Title: Twilight: Eclipse

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Talor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, Bryce Dallas Howard, Xavier Samuel

Brief Synopsis: The third installment of the Twilight series. Bella (Stewart) has chosen between Jacob (Lautner) and Edward (Pattinson). However, Victoria (Howard) is still out to destroy her and rip apart the Cullens. She has created an army led by Riley (Samuel) to track her down and kill her. The Cullens are forced to join forces wit he werewolves in order to protect Bella and the town.

Opinion: I feel I liked this one a little better than before, but it is still way too much of a love triangle for me. I was pretty jazzed for the vampire and werewolf fight, but was a bit let down as to how short it was. I thought the entire movie was building to that point and it was sort of rushed in my opinion.

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Title: How to Train Your Dragon

Starring: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill

Brief Synopsis: Vikings and dragons have always been enemies and it is up to the vikings to kill the dragons in order to stay alive. At least that is what everyone believed until scrawny Hiccup (Baruchel) befriends an injured dragon and learns the real truth behind why the dragons are attacking the village.

Opinion: I have to say this was a very good movie, however, I am not sure why it is considered to be even close to Toy Story 3. That being said, this was the second best animated film I have seen all year. It was beautiful to look at, and it had a great story. And my son loved it - which is a good way to judge animation in my opinion.

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Title: Dinner for Schmucks

Starring: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Jemaine Clement, Stephanie Szostak, Ron Livingston, Bruce Greenwood.

Brief Synopsis: Tim (Rudd) is really looking forward to getting a promotion at his company in order for his girlfriend to think he is a big shot and marry him. He is very close to getting the promotion when he finds out he needs to find a loser to bring to a dinner so everyone can make fun of them - lucky for him, he meets Barry (Carell).

Opinion: I will say this, I did laugh a few times during this film. But, I also have to say that I was not expecting it to be as bad as it was. Everything seemed forced - especially the humor. The only redeeming quality was the underlying story of Barry losing his wife, except we didn't get any real closure to that in the end. So, I do not recommend this film.

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Tuesday's With Movies: 11/30/10

Coming a bit late due to a pretty busy couple of days for me, but here is the DVD releases for this week - the last of November.

Twilight: Eclipse: I have watched each of the first two Twilight films. But, I have only watched each of them once. My sister and Mrs. Kano have become pretty large fans of this saga - so I naturally will watch the film with my wife for my one (and usually only) viewing. I am not sure what it is, but I have not gravitated toward Twilight like I did with Harry Potter. Maybe its Robert Pattinson or that Cheaper by the Dozen kid with the abs. Because, I somewhat enjoy Kristen Stewart - more in other films though. Either way, yes I will be watching this - at least once.

Vampire's Suck: Oh, you know it was only a matter of time until someone out there began poking fun at the sudden rage that has become vampires. I have to admit that I was a pretty large fan of the original Scary Movie and I can definitely find the humor in parodies - but the last handful (maybe even a dozen) have been pretty horrible. This will probably provide much of the same and I will most likely not be checking this one out.



Sorcerer's Apprentice: I was not too sure about this one when it first came out, but I have to admit it looks like it might be, at the very least, entertaining. I feel Jay Baruchel is a pretty likable guy - and from what I have heard/read Nic Cage is a good form of his crazy self in this setting. So, I am definitely going to be checking this one out - in fact it is on its way from Netflix as I type this.




Fantasia/Fantasia 2000: I never got into the whole Fantasia thing when I was growing up. I guess its the type of film that you either love or you hate and I have always found myself on the hate side. Yes, it is a great piece of work and to go with the move above it - The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a great piece of the film. I haven't seen it in a very long time - so perhaps with maturity and the understanding of classical music I will give it another shot. Due to my hatred for the original I have not seen the second one, but will be checking them both out in this combo pack.

Knight and Day: I have heard both good and bad about this film. I will definitely be giving it a look over to form my own opinion. I can both take or leave both of the film's stars, as I have enjoyed Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz - I also have had moments where it is very hard to take them. This looks to be the better action film that appears to be carbon copies of the other - Killers - released this summer. I have not seen either yet, but I will see just how close they are to each other. I bet this one will win.