STL Film Critics

What to Expect When You’re Expecting-Karl Sides (the Flick Fanatic.com)

Karl — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:32:19 +0000

Elizabeth Banks finds her “Glow” when she says “Pregnancy SUCKS!” in “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”

Director Kirk Jones (Waking Ned Devine) brings us a comedy loaded with stars and estrogen as he shows us numerous ways to look at the news “We’re Pregnant!” in the film “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”. Elizabeth Banks (who seems to be in every movie this year), Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz and Chris Rock lead a cast of comedic all-stars as they explain the fears and pitfalls that come with birthing a child.

Hollywood fat-loss guru Jules (Diaz) and her professional dancing partner Evan (Glee’s Mathew Morrison) have just won Celebrity Dance Factor when she throws up in the trophy, the first sign of her pregnancy. The pair are unmarried lovers that plan to work the pregnancy into her career and cross the baby “bridge” when it pops its little head out and no sooner. It is kind of funny watching Diaz, who looks like she at a beach ball, yelling at a group of obese people in a pool.

Wendy (Banks) is the owner of a “Breast” friendly baby store and just finished her first kids book when she discovers her dream has come true…..she is Pregnant! She is no able to identify with her client base as she makes her way through her first pregnancy culminating at a key note speech at a infant products trade show where she explains she was” looking forward to the glow, but ladies I have to call it, I call BULLSHIT! Pregnancy is bullshit.” Every woman’s jaw hits the floor and her outburst goes viral on You Tube. Her loyal husband Gary (Ben Falcone), one of Jules’ successful students and son of an ultra competitive retired race car driver Ramsey (Dennis Quaid), heads off to consult with the “dude crew” about what else he is in for once the kid actually arrives. Not to upstaged by his son, as Wendy and Gary give their big news, Ramsey explains that he and his 20 something trophy wife Skyler (Brooklyn Decker) are expecting twins!

Want the rest of the delivery? read it at www.theflickfanatic.com

Battleship – Reelworld (Kent Tentschert/Carol Hemphill)

kent — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:42:12 +0000

THE PLOT:
After the discovery of a planet outside the solar system that may sustain life, Earth begins transmitting a signal to its potential friends.
In response, Earth is visited by five hostile spaceships armed to the teeth. Trapped within a strange impenetrable “Bubble Shield” is a three-boat contingent, two from the United States, one from Japan.
The ensuing battle is lopsided with two boats being lost.
The remaining vessel, the “John Paul Jones” is captained by Lieutenant Alex Hopper (Taylor Kitsch), an intelligent maverick who has been squandering his skills.
As Hopper’s girlfriend tries to stymie the aliens on shore who are attempting to send a signal home.
Hopper must use his experience and his – heretofore – wasted skills and a healthy dose of humility to guide his crew and allies in a cat and mouse game of survival.

Kent’s Take:
My definition of a popcorn movie is a film heavy in adventure, low in expectations and chock-full of entertainment – little thinking is involved as your popcorn bucket slowly empties.
“Battleship” is a perfect summer popcorn movie. Based upon the popular Hasbro board game of the same name, this feature displays the same traits its cinematic predecessors have shown. “Jumanji,” “Zathura” and “Clue,” were all based upon board games and each of these films were campy, predictable and lots of fun.
Anyone heading into this film looking for a macho “Top Gun” testosterone-fest will surely be disappointed. Might I remind you that this film is based upon an 81-year-old board game in which pegs are used to sink ships. This pure action movie is a cross between “Transformers” and a Navy recruiting film.
Yet, for all of its shortcomings, this film achieves its simple goals. Audiences will laugh and cheer for our Navy men and women, as well as our Japanese allies and the role, attention and respect shown our wounded warriors is well-placed and appreciated.
Many critics will pan this film for its shallow plot, predictability and innaccuracies, but as a virile, inspirational, family-friendly summer option, “Battleship” will blow you out of the water.

Read more reviews by Kent and Carol at: http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/SiteElist-1924.113117-Reelworld.html

Bernie – Reelworld (Kent Tentschert/Carol Hemphill)

kent — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:34:26 +0000

CAROL’s Take:
In 1996, 39-year-old Bernie Tiede (Jack Black) shot his multi-millionaire traveling companion, 81-year-old Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLaine), four times in the back. He hid the body, intact, in her garage freezer for nine months until suspicious relatives and authorities discovered her remains.
Granted, this story line does not read like a “laugh out loud” comedy. But in the hands of director, Richard Linklater, that’s exactly what “Bernie” is.
Bernie, an assistant funeral director, church choir leader and community theater star, was one of the most popular men in Carthage, Texas. He infused all his interactions with a profound Christian spirit and was beloved for his warmth and infectious sense of joy.
In fact, district attorney, Danny “Buck” Davidson (Matthew McConaughey) was convinced that no local jury would vote to convict the man. He sought and received a change of venue so Bernie could be tried out of town.
“Bernie” presents its titular character with great sympathy using a structure akin to true-crime reenactments. Linklater incorporates footage of interviews with community residents, all of whom seem to love Bernie and despise the ostensibly evil Marjorie.
Overall, their hilarious comments describe a caring imp who is generous to a fault. His actions, they suggest, were merely those of a loving man who had one very bad day.
Black is always entertaining, and as Bernie he is at his best. It would have been simple to take this character right over the top. But the actor trusts the material and plays the man with tremendous affection. The entire project is elevated by his choice.

To read more reviews by Kent and Carol, visit: http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/SiteElist-1924.113117-Reelworld.html

The Dictator- Karl Sides (The Flick Fanatic.com)

Karl — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:47:07 +0000

Sasha Baron Cohen is hilarious as the evil dictator General Aladeen!

Director Larry Charles has made a living out of making us laugh at Sasha Baron Cohen’s stereotypical alternate personalities like Borat, the immigrant who comes to American to learn our customs and take them and Pam Anderson back to Kazakhstan or Bruno the openly gay model that comes to take over American fashion. This time Sasha takes aim at evil dictators around the globe by dedicating the film, in the opening credits, to the late ruler of North Korea Kim Jong IL. The rest of the film is a who’s who of comic talent featuring Anna Farris, John C. Reilly and Sir Ben Kingsley in a hilarious tale of sex, deceit and assassination!

General Shabazz Aladeen (Cohen) the ruthless egotistical leader of the oil rich nation of Wadiya. He pampers himself with golden SUVs, pays for sex with some of Hollywood’s elite movie stars like Megan Fox, and rushes to have nuclear weapons for his country. He is an evil dictator that will execute anyone who would defy or embarrass him. Aladeen held his own Olympic games where he ran the 100 yard dash with the starting pistol and used it to shoot the officials and other runners. Aladeen ended up with all the gold medals. He also executed his chief nuclear scientist who refused Aladeen’s request to make his nuclear missile have a pointed top on it like he saw in a roadrunner cartoon! The General is summoned to appear before the United Nations in New York City after he refused numerous attempts to search Wadiya for weapons of mass destruction. So the General, his uncle Tamir (Sir Ben Kingsley), 3 virgin bodyguards and a dimwitted double that they grabbed while he was herding goats.

When Aladeen hits Manhattan, the fish out of water humor begins and reminds us of the same types of things we saw in Crocodile Dundee as the General tries to maintain his Wadiyan customs over here in America. Aladeen rides in on a team of camels to the jeers of thousands of New York protestors, only to be abducted by the head of hotel security (John C. Reilly). His trademark beard is removed and as he is about to be tortured and killed, Aladeen informs his assassin that he is using poor equipment and eventually subdues his perpetrator but not before he finds out his uncle Tamir is behind the plot. Tamir aims to have the goat herding double sign a declaration to make Wadiya a democratic nation and sell the oil drilling rights to the big oil companies and retire a rich man. General Aladeen must stop this, but he is beardless, penniless and alone in Brooklyn!

see the rest of the review at www.theflickfanatic.com

Dark Shadows-Karl Sides (The Flick Fanatic.com)

Karl — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:09:25 +0000

Tim Burton has “dug up” his favorite actor, Johnny Depp, to bring the original horror-soap opera “Dark Shadows” to the big screen.

Depp star as the lead Barnabas Collins, patriarch of the Collins family who just so happens to be a 200 year old vampire! Helena Bonham Carter, who has appeared in 4 films with both her husband Tim Burton and Depp in the past, shows up in her funniest role to date as a boozing psychiatrist trying to heal the woes of the Collins clan.

Barnabas Collins made his way to the new world, aka Maine in the United States, as a young boy when his parents brought their wealth and successful fishing business over from England. The Family founded the town in Maine called Collinsport and spent 10 years building the family dream home “Collinwood”. When Barnabas (Depp) grew into a young adult, he did what any aristocrat would do; he hit on the chamber maids! He unfortunately made out with Angelique (Eva Green) a housekeeper that happens to be a witch. Barnabas soon moves on when he meets the love of his life Josette DuPres (Bella Heathcoate). Angelique gets pissed and decides to curse the entire Collins clan. She kills Barnabas’ parents with a statue falling from the roof of Collinwood. Then she possesses Josette and has her walk off a cliff and plunge to her death right in front of Barnabas. Barnabas then follows her over the edge to be with his true love only to learn that Angelique has cursed him to be a vampire and live so he can come around with his affections for her! When Barnabas confronts Angelique, she tells the town what he is and has him locked in a box and buried undead for 200 years!

For more Bloodsucking info see the review at www.theflickfanatic.com

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – Reelworld (Kent Tentschert/Carol Hemphill)

kent — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:53:42 +0000

CAROL’s Take:
Seven senior citizens make up a group of Brits that decides to “outsource” their retirement to a hotel in India. As advertised on the Internet – where else? – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful offers affordable leisure in a refurbished, historic guesthouse and exotic locale.
The party includes Evelyn (Judi Dench), a recent widow left penniless by her husband. Also along is Mrs. Donnelly (Maggie Smith), who is retired from household service. She is in India for a much-needed hip replacement. Graham (Tom Wilkinson) is a retired judge who grew up in India and has a personal reason for returning.
The only married pair in the group are Doug and Jean (Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton) who lost their old-age fund on a bad tech investment. Rounding out the group are Madge (Celia Imrie) who plans to use her sex appeal to land a wealthy widower, and Norman (Ronald Pickup) who is simply looking for sex.
There is not much about the narrative arc of this film that cannot be foreseen. The hotel’s young owner, Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel), used Photoshop for the on-line pictures of the place. Their charm and beauty reflect his dreams for the establishment, but not its reality. The phones don’t work. Some rooms don’t have doors; others are occupied by birds. The native cuisine gives the guests sudden and distressing indigestion.
Predictability aside, “The Best Exotic Hotel” is a great place for viewers to spend a little time. The performances are top notch across the board, the laughs are authentic and the touching moments are honestly earned. Director John Madden treats his seniors with tremendous respect while they learn to do the same for themselves and each other.
Some in the cast, including Dench and Smith, are frequently seen in period pieces, playing queens, or duchesses or wizards. It is a special treat to see them embody and enrich these contemporary characters – wrinkles and all – whose lives don’t matter to another living soul. Their outward insignificance makes each them especially dear.

To read more reviews by Kent and Carol, visit: http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/SiteElist-1924.113117-Reelworld.html

The Avengers-Karl Sides (The Flick Fanatic.com)

Karl — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:18:08 +0000

Marvel has assembled a Dream Team to take down the summer movie competition!

This has been building for years with Marvel Studios releasing summer blockbusters like Ironman 1&2, Thor, Captain America and the Hulk, a way of introducing the public to the members of their “dream team” of superheroes called the Avengers prior to the release this summer. Everyone is reprising the role they made famous (except Ed Norton who was replaced by Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk) including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Capt. America, Scrarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. All of those teasers you’ve seen in the films leading up to now, all make sense in Marvel’s masterpiece, “THE AVENGERS”.

Nick Fury, director of the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and logistics Division (S.H.I.E.L.D.), along with his right hand man Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) has “assembled” a super group of super heroes. They have a genius, a spy, an assassin, a soldier, a god and they have a HULK! This super group is there to back up S.H.I.E.L.D. and defend the planet if it were to come under attack. Officially it is referred to as the “Avenger Initiative”, but it has never been needed until now….

When S.H.I.E.L.D. uncovered a frozen Steve Rogers aka Captain America, there was also a mysterious blue cube called the Teseract that possesses unlimited power and Hydra (the bad guys) was trying to use it as a weapon to rule the world. Fury has it in a hidden base in New Mexico with Dr. Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard from THOR) trying to find out how to use it in S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons. Loki (Tom Hiddleston), after being thrown out of Asguard, has infiltrated the S.H.I.E.L.D. base and stolen the cube and used some kind of magic to control Clint Barton aka Hawkeye. Fury and Coulson manage to make it out of the base just before it explodes only to lose Hawkeye and Loki. Fury knows it time to assemble his team.

Read the rest of the review at www.theflickfanatic.com

The Avengers – Reelworld (Kent Tentschert/Carol Hemphill)

kent — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:05:16 +0000

The Plot:
When an incredible extraterrestrial energy source called the Tesseract is stolen from the authorities, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) assembles the most powerful beings on earth to retrieve it.
The thief, Loki (Tom Hiddelston), is the conniving brother of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) one of Earth’s protectors. Yet, as Loki’s plan begins to take shape, Tony Stark – Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Bruce Banner – The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Steve Rogers – Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor and Natasha Romanoff – Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) cannot seem to agree on anything – Loki’s motives or plan, their own motives or plan.
As egos clash and Nick Fury’s ultimate goal is questioned, each hero must look for common ground in order to defeat the ever-plotting Loki or Earth will soon become enslaved.

Kent’s Take:
Using five previous films to set up this film, “The Avengers” has finally arrived. The Avengers see the Tesseract as an endless energy source while Loki sees it as a source of boundless power.
While the Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America and Thor films fleshed out the characters and their costumes, no one was quite sure how these super heroes and their super egos would work on screen together. Watching each of these powerful beings work with and against one another is both astounding and wildly entertaining. The special effects used here are eye-popping and spectacular, but what distinguishes these effects even more is the creativity behind them. The battles shown and technology used in the film are very obviously tailored to each hero and the technology seems far-fetched, but I promise you, we will eventually begin to see some of the computer software and hardware in our world.
It’s obvious that comic book fans developed this film, for the care to detail and evident knowledge of the material shine through. It is also easy to detect skilled writing, for this complex story is layered with subtext and setups and yet is simple to follow. Themes of self-sacrifice, brotherly love, vengeance and teamwork fill the action gaps to form a plot worthy of these super beings.
The laughs throughout are perfect for entertaining young and old, and hard-core and casual fans will be thrilled with the non-stop action and well represented characters.
“The Avengers” pulls the best of five films together to produce a balanced, well-acted, beautifully written actioner that is the cinematic equivalent to the Tesseract’s endless energy. Welcome to 2012’s first blockbuster.

Read more reviews by Kent and Carol at: http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/SiteElist-1924.113117-Reelworld.html

The Raven – Reelworld (Kent Tentschert/Carol Hemphill)

kent — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:57:52 +0000

The Plot:
1840s Baltimore finds a serial killer on the loose and Detective Fields (Luke Evans) is called in to investigate. Gleaning a pattern, he soon finds that the killer is mimicking the deaths in Edgar Allan Poe’s stories. After enlisting Poe (John Cusack) as a consultant, Fields must struggle with his odd personality when things take a deadly turn. Kidnapping Poe’s fiancée, Emily (Alice Eve), the killer leads authorities on a wild chase through Baltimore as Poe watches his future fade before him.

Kent’s Take:
When one thinks of Edgar Allan Poe, the name alone elicits visions of shadows and blood, of death and the macabre.
“The Raven” is as close to that image as “The Munsters” are to the horror genre. This film tries very hard to be that horror film, but cannot shed its Herman Munster sensibilities.
Poe, played by a talented but miscast John Cusack, is neither creepy or strange. The character refers to his works as a teacher refers to an author’s work. This disassociation with Poe’s stories and poems is rife throughout the film, weakening an already shaky foundation. It is also assumed that the audience has read most of Poe’s works, which renders their references meaningless to those unfamiliar with his morbid writings.
Touted as a dark horror story, this film plays out more like a Sherlock Holmes mystery with Poe’s romantic involvement coming to the forefront, relegating his creepy nature and alcoholism to a distant personality hiccup. There is a distinct difference between lighting a scene with contrast and creating a horror-filled moment using tension, environment and character.
The mystery is engaging and punctuated creatively with some initial gore, yet the pieces of this grotesque puzzle never fit together properly. Is this a horror film? No. Is this a mystery? Yes, but the trail uses information that is fed to the audience through exposition, not shown in deep, dreadful scenes. Does this film capture the ghastly nature of Edgar Allan Poe and his works? Unfortunately not.
“The Raven” is worth a rent for an entertaining mystery, but as a first-run film, quoth the critic, “Never more.”

Carol’s Take:
In 1935, two cinematic greats, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, starred in a picture called “The Raven.” In it, a Poe-obsessed man appropriated several of the writer’s plots to commit horrific crimes.
Back then it was not necessary to turn all tales into action adventures to ensure box office success. Nor was graphic gore a requisite element.
The new picture, “The Raven,” opts for both action and gore. Emotional involvement – dependent on sympathy for Poe and on an unbelievable love story – never materializes.
All this is shot at annoyingly close range. Perhaps that approach was taken to evoke a claustrophobic atmosphere, but it sadly suggests a small budget that prohibited expansive sets.
When his casting as Poe was announced, Cusack seemed like an auspicious choice. In fact the whole premise of the picture was promising. In the end, those unrealized possibilities make the final result all the more disappointing.

To read more reviews by Kent and Carol, visit:

http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/SiteElist-1924.113117-Reelworld.html

Safe-Karl Sides (The Flick Fanatic.com)

Karl — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:04:47 +0000

Jason Statham is kicking butts and taking names again in his new film SAFE!

Jason Statham is synonymous with action movie having done the Transporter films and Italian Job, so when Boaz Yakin (Remember the Titans) wants to make a “kill’em all film” who else would he call? With “SAFE” Statham is a cop that finds himself partnered with a small oriental girl that is the target of every low-life in New York City! She couldn’t be safer?

Luke Wright (Statham) is an ex-NYC detective, run off the force by a group of cops on the take. Now Luke spends his time earning a living by taking a beating in MMA (mixed martial arts) fights in a sort of penance for letting the dirty cops get away with it. Luke walks away when he puts a lesser fighter in a coma with one punch. Wright was suppose to take a dive in the second round, but the fight didn’t get that far and it cost the Russian Mob boss Emile Docheski (Sandor Tecsy) millions. Wright races home to find a kill squad in his house and his wife’s lifeless body in the bathroom. Vassily Docheski (Joseph Sikora), Emile’s son, tells Luke he’s not going to kill him! They are going to watch him and kill anyone he is friends with or comes in contact with. A demonstration comes the next evening at a homeless shelter when Luke gives a man with gross feet his spare shoes, only to find him the next morning dead with his throat slit!

Want to know what else happens, read the review at www.theflickfanatic.com