HDoGG's Movie Bonanza!!

Ok, so lately it just seems like I don't have enough hours in the day to make sure and get the blogging in as much as I'd like. This is readily apparent as Live Free or Die Hard has been on the upcoming review list going on forever! What can I say? A lot of other interesting material kept popping up that I wanted to review more than it, so it got the back shelf. Not any longer, though, as now I kill four birds with one post. Here it is - HDoGG's movie bonanza!

Live Free or Die Hard - I've never been much into the whole Die Hard thing, but for some reason I wanted to see this one. Not entirely sure why, but I did and ended up catching it back in June with some buddies. When the hiatus is as long as it was for Bruce Willis and this franchise, one went in wondering if there was possibly anything left in the tank? I don't know about the rest of you, but I for one was pleasantly surprised and entertained to boot. McClane is back and this time he is fighting techno terrorists determined to bring America to its knees by essentially pulling "the plug" on the Internet, banks, the power grid... everything! So while McClane is busy snooping on his teenage daughter in the wee hours, he gets pulled into the fray once again, this time trying anything and everything to keep good hacker Justin Long alive.

What a ride! In the summer when its hot and you just want to sit in the air conditioning and watch some good action its films like this that deliver. Willis proved that he still has it and I felt that he and Long had a pretty darn good "buddy" chemistry going as the odd couple (action hero cop/computer geek). There were some good laughs, great chases, outlandish moments (most notably involving a super jet and a semi trailer) and a satisfying end, even if we didn't actually get to hear McClane's signature catch-phrase in full. It was all good... and it didn't suck like 1408. 8/10

Superbad - Seth Rogan certainly had a good summer. First we were treated to Judd Apatow's Knocked Up starring Rogan and then we got his own film Superbad, starring Jonah Hill and Michael Serra (Arrested Development). This film pretty much defines juvenile, but with the right crowd it was a great time! I laughed pretty much the whole time. And the part about the right crowd is absolutely true. I went with a high school buddy and we were in a half full theatre with nothing but other adults in their 20s, so we didn't have annoying packs of high schoolers to ruin the atmosphere. Nothing against teenagers, but I've reached that age where I'd prefer not to watch this type of comedy surrounded by them because, honestly, I can't relate with the kids anymore.

This coming of age buddy flick was pretty much one crazy gag after another as two friends try to score before they part ways for college after high school. Naturally they are losers who never get chicks and it just so happens that they have a good chance now, but everything hinges on getting booze for a party which of course involves the use of a fake ID. One thing leads to another and before they know it things have gone terribly wrong and they are in the middle of the craziest night of their young lives. Crude doesn't even begin to describe this movie, but nevertheless it is funny and elicits its fair share of yuck-yucks. If you haven't seen, have a strong stomach and are in the mood for a really stupid but entertaining comedy, check out Superbad. 8/10

Inside Man - A Spike Lee Joint, you say? Yes sir, and it stars my boy Denzel (Crimson Tide, Training Day). It also stars Clive Owen, whose star is rising faster than Lindsey Lohan's rehab bill. I mean, what the hell is up with Cliver Owen?! Sin City, Children of Men, Shoot 'Em Up... this guy is kicking ass and taking names at a theater near you like every other Friday it seems. He is a damn good actor, so keep it coming Clive.

Inside Man is a pretty good heist movie that breaks the mold and goes about things in its own way; a standoff film that is three parts cerebral and one part action, like The Score only actually worth your time. You are never really certain what is going on in the film until the very end when all the pieces come together. And I won't call the ending brilliant, but it was very satisfying. Ok, so maybe a bunch of hints were laid out that maybe you could have figured out what was coming, but it was still good. Denzel and Clive were on their respective games and that is always fun to watch.

This film also featured Jodi Foster (in a non-victim role), Willem Defoe (in a non-creepy role) and Christopher Plummer (in a non-Klingon role). I didn't much care for Foster. Don't have any specific reason for this, but I just didn't. Plummer was practically a bit player, which is ironic seeing as his character is essentially the reason for the plot of the film, but who cares? Christopher Plummer is still getting work and I respect that. Oh yes, and it also featured Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity) who did a fine job in a supporting role.

All in all I blind bought this film based on lots of good buzz and I enjoyed it. Check it out. 9/10

The Kingdom - Premise: a terrorist attack on US nationals within Saudi Arabia gets the attention of the FBI. They killed Jennifer Garner's friend and now she wants blood. So she, Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman??? saddle up and head to Saudi Arabia despite objections of the state department to get to the bottom of who pulled off the brutal attack. And it was pretty brutal!

They aren't welcome in the Kingdom, but they are guests of the Prince so they are allowed to do their work under very heavy supervision and with a laundry list of restrictions. Oh and they also don't like Garner because she is a woman. They have 3 days to do what they want to do.

The Kingdom comes at the audience marinated in the years of stereotypes and bitter resentment that have built up between the Muslim world and the West, especially since 9/11. And while I don't doubt the realism of any of the situations in the film, it does come across as being very heavy handed. Still, the central message of the film that I took away was the importance of building bridges and finding common ground which takes place between the Americans and the Saudi agents they are working very closely with. It is a cold reception at first, but eventually both sides start to understand each other. The film culminates with a chaotic third act involving abduction, street combat, and rescue within a very hostile environment. For all real purposes, Saudi Arabia might as well be on another planet because it is shown as a very different world that what you and I are are used to. Its intense.

I couldn't get over what I perceived as an air of pretentiousness from this film. As I said before, it felt very heavy handed and overly dramatic at times, almost as if to scream out "look at how important and relevant this film is!" It was good but I take away points because it was a little too self important for me. 7/10