Maybe I'll go, Maaaaybe: Transformers 3

I've heard reviews from Spill.com, "Spoony", and Brad "The Cinema Snob" Jones regarding Transformers 3. So far, it's been bad review after bad review of Michael Bay's latest exploration into "Will this explode on screen?". This week, I'll be reviewing "Midnight in Paris" for sure, but I might do Transformers 3 if I've got time. If not, I'll put up something else. 

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

Starring Conan O'Brien

Directed by Rodman Flender

Release Date: June 24th, 2011


An energetic and hilarious backstage look into the "Legally Prohibited from TV" Tour Conan O'Brien made when NBC took back The Tonight Show from him. Directed by O'Brien's college friend Flender, this documentary shows us the brainstorming sessions, the doubt, and the struggles of a grueling 44 date tour for O'Brien and his crew. One of the best compliments I can give is that it you're a fan of O'Brien's brand of eccentric, manic humor, there's tons of his strange comedy. In addition to O'Brien, there are cameos from noted celebrities such as Tenacious D, Jim Carrey, Jon Hamm, and Stephen Colbert.

A great documentary that shows the struggle, pain, and exhaustion of being Conan O'Brien.

Rating; * * * * 1/2 of 5

You don't mess with the Zohan

Starring Adam Sandler and John Turturro

Directed by Dennis Dugan

Release Date: June 6th, 2008


 A boring, predictable, and extremely offensive movie toward Israelis. Only watch this movie if you're a die hard Adam Sandler fan. I get that he wants to be edgy, that he can do anything. But this movie is just too bland for its' own good. For a movie about an Israeli counter-terrorist agent turned hairdresser, I was bored for most of the movie. I didn't find the jokes that funny as they're extremely obvious or just gross; did audiences really need to see Adam Sandler's exaggerated groin? Or how about Henry Winkler vomiting? Just skip this movie, as it's just a waste of your time.


Rating: 1/2 of 5 


click here to buy You Don't Mess With the Zohan (Unrated Extended Single-Disc Edition)You Don't Mess With the Zohan (Unrated + BD Live) [Blu-ray]

Super 8

Starring Kyle Chandler,  Elle Fanning, and Noah Emmerich

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Release Date: June 10th, 2011


An entertaining collaboration between J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. Super 8 definitely feels like a similar movie Spielberg had made during the 1970s, such as "Duel" or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". The movie certainly makes great use of the child actors, making the conversations feel authentic and the character development that much more important in relation to the plot. Although the movie does have Abrams overuse of lens flare, Super 8 is certainly a suspenseful and entertaining movie about learning to accept the difficulties of loss and appreciating what you have now.


Rating: * * * * * of  5 


Click here to buy previous works by both Steven Spielberg and J.J. Abrams: 

Duel (Collector's Edition), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition) [Blu-ray], E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Widescreen Edition), Jaws (30th Anniversary Edition) Star Trek (Three-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray] Star Trek (Single-Disc Edition) Lost: The Complete Collection

Green Lantern

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Mark Strong, Peter Sarsgaard, Blake Lively, and the voice talents of Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan

Directed by Martin Campbell

Release Date:

June 17th, 2011

So far,as of June 17th 2011,  www. rottentomatoes.com has accumulated an average score of 24% favorable reviews for Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, and the voice talents of Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan. A lot of the reviews have claimed that the movie is a bore, that nothing is accomplished and that the "wow" factor just isn't there. We'll take a look at both the good and bad of this DC Comics adaptation.

First, the good: the movie certainly has a lot of fun. For all my own speculation and criticism, Ryan Reynolds certainly captured the cockiness and attitude that bring out the courage and heroism in Hal Jordan. Reynolds certainly brings a certain swagger and charm to Hal, and a need to be vulnerable when needed. Then there's all the CGI: 90% of it is good (the other 10....we'll talk about later). From the GL uniforms to their green constructed objects, the sights in this movie are certainly full of life and energy. One aspect I enjoyed was how the uniforms showed off a wave of energy constantly moving, a nice touch that shows that the "uniforms" are more a second skin than a latex suit.

Second, the bad: the CGI on Hal's mask, the cheesy dialogue, and a few plot holes or events that needed more explanation. Hal's mask....the movie makes a good explanation, but it still looks awful and putting the green CGI on the bridge of his nose was a bad idea. Some of the dialogue involving the characters drawing attention that they're in a comic-book movie is a little ridiculous, but I only mention it as this type of pros could have been eliminated in the revision stage of the screenplay and have made better dialogue. Then there's some plot holes; I won't mention what occurs, but you'll think about what happens and say "How did he know where _____ was?".

Still, for all its' faults, Green Lantern is an enjoyable comic-book film. Not as good as X-Men: First Class or Thor, but still entertaining.

Rating: * * * 1/2 of 5

X-Men: First Class

Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, January Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kevin Bacon

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Release Date: June 3rd, 2011


Superb performances, staggering action sequences, and clever references to previous “X-Men” films abound in this prequel to the X-Men Series. Matthew Vaughn has most certainly invigorated new blood into the X-Men Franchise and I await with baited breath when (and if) we get to venture forward into this new continuity. 

In addition, I felt that McAvoy and Fassbender give commendable performances as Charles "Professor X" Xavier and Erik "Magneto" Lehnsherr. Both actors believably connect their performances of these characters during the 1960s and make it believable that they will one day grow into the older interpretations seen in Producer Bryan Singers' 2000 X-Men. If you're a fan of the X-men or merely curious about a film that explores topics such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Cold War, bigotry, self-hatred, Nazi Germany, and shape-changers, go see one of the best comic book adaptations from the summer of 2011.


Click here to buy X-Men: First Class (+Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] X-Men: First Class

Rating: * * * * * of 5