Big Screen
Published Friday July 3rd, 2009
TRANSFORMERS:
REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
No joking, the original "Transformers" was a wonderful movie, full of action, thrills, romance and fun, registering an astounding 91 per cent approval. It wasn't just the screen adaptation of a Hasbro toy, it was great entertainment.
And I'll be darned, "Revenge of the Fallen" is even better. Shia LaBeouf returns to lead the Autobots against the unsavoury Decepticons. Sam and girlfriend, Mikaela (Megan Fox), have college to confront as well as The Fallen, a hideous Decepticon leader.
For an accurate film description, simply reverse most critics' reviews and find an adventure loaded with director Michael Bay's spectacular action, dreamy romance, and moments of humour.
Viewers reacted:
* "For those of us who played with the toys, it's exciting to see them transform into incredible action figures"
* "Best action movie of the year"
* "Long but worth it"
* "You have to see it on the big screen because of the special effects."
MY SISTER'S KEEPER
Sara (Cameron Diaz) and husband, Brian (Jason Patric), have daughter Kate (Sofia Vassilieva) dying of leukemia. They genetically engineer Anna (Abigail Breslin), their second child, who has spent her entire 11 years on earth providing blood and bone marrow for Kate. Now Anna, with the help of an attorney (Alec Baldwin) wants to stop donating herself and the endless painful operations, suing Sara for medical emancipation in order to keep her kidney. The moral and ethical perplexity is deepened by middle son Jesse (Evan Ellinson), who is struggling with his own difficulties.
Based on Jodi Picoult's bestseller, the heart of the film is Cameron Diaz as the indomitable mother whose sheer iron will has kept Kate alive a decade past her predicted life expectancy.
Moviegoers commented:
* "The book is far better"
* "Made me cry"
* "The book is better but different. The movie is good on its own"
* "Tearjerker, very controversial"
* "Disappointed. I wish they would end it like the book."
THE PROPOSAL
High-powered book editor Margaret (Sandra Bullock) is facing deportation to her native Canada. Callous and scheming, she forces her assistant Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) to become her fiancé in order to fool naturalization officials. The couple flies to Sitka, Ala., to visit the groom's close-knit family and partake in a weekend of homey shenanigans.
Most critics panned "The Proposal" just as they erroneously hammered "Two Weeks Notice" and "Miss Congeniality," failing to understand that warm-and-comfortable predictability can be a good thing.
Awkward moments are made pleasant by the pair's affability and the bite of sarcasm that's traditionally found in good romantic comedies.
Two other show stealers support our recommendations: Betty White as Andrew's loving and ditzy grandmother and Oscar Nunez spice up several scenes. As romantic comedies go, "Proposal" should have a long summer run.
Viewers concluded:
* "Predictable but even so, super entertaining"
* "It's all about Sandra Bullock and she is wonderful as usual"
* "Cute"
* "Beautiful scenery"
* "A very funny movie. Attractive story"
* "Chick flick."
YEAR ONE
Neanderthals Zed (Jack Black) and Oh (Michael Cera) are banished from their tribe and embark on a journey through biblical times only stopping for potty humour.
Black's distinctly frenetic mannerisms have not changed since "High Fidelity," but that's what most viewers wanted to see. Meek Cera, playing opposite Black, makes the film come alive with laughter.
The adolescent perspective does not play well for older audiences, but youngsters will get their daily allotment of uncouth crudeness as the potent comic moments ebb and flow.
Viewers reacted:
* "Stupid, silly, gross"
* "My mom and dad would hate it."
THE TAKING OF
PELHAM ONE TWO THREE
This remake of the 1974 original relies heavily on its two intense actors to deliver a by-the-numbers mix of action and star power that fails to grasp the brass ring.
"Pelham" looks like most other high-priced thrillers -- good by all standards, but not great. Pelham's 75 per cent Audience Approval proves the cat-and-mouse game between honest intelligence and self-indulgent evil connected with many viewers.
John Travolta plays a terrorist named Ryder who hijacks a subway train and holds everyone hostage, angling for a $10-million ransom, threatening to kill a passenger every hour until the money is delivered. Denzel Washington is the expert dispatcher who uses his knowledge of the New York subway system to duel with Ryder. John Turturro is the hostage negotiator stirring up the action, and James Gandolfini stars as the mayor whose impending retirement bliss is jeopardized.
The best reason to see the film is for the performances.
Viewers concluded:
* "The story was intriguing"
* "The actors are great and there are some funny parts"
* "Flashy"
* "I like Denzel Washington and John Travolta but the story is old style, nothing new"
* "Intense. There are a lot of good thrills watching these two guys battle each other."
THE HANGOVER
"The Hangover" is the highest-rated comedy we have polled in the past 20 years. None of the nearly 300 moviegoers we polled rated it below three stars.
Bridegroom Doug (Justin Bartha) and three friends (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis) drive to Vegas for a bachelor party two days before the wedding. But the groomsmen wake up the following morning to find a tiger, a baby, a chicken, a hooker, missing teeth, smoldering furniture and an AWOL Bridegroom.
The non-stop humour comes as the boys recall last night's debacle and uncover surprise after surprise.
* "Hysterical"
* "I laughed every minute"
* "Amazing"
* "From the trailer, I thought it was going to be just some stupid and crazy comedy. It turned out to be crazy but not stupid. It's very funny and entertaining"
* "Terribly gross at times, but you don't notice it because it's so funny."
UP
Pixar has created two of the finest, most popular animated films of all time in "Wall-E" and "Ratatouille." "Up" signals the commencement of summer while earning yet another superior rating from moviegoers who voted it into the number one position on our poll.
"Up" is a brilliant combination of compelling story, dazzling animation and writing that tickles every emotion. The film builds around an old man dealing with the passing of his beloved wife. It's short introduction follows childhood friends Carl and Ellie along their lifetime path of friendship and love; it's an unparalleled profound experience for anyone regardless of age. Carl (voice of Ed Asner) and wife Ellie spent their lives planning to visit Paradise Falls in Venezuela, but Ellie's death ends the dream.
Carl, a relentless curmudgeon, suspends his house from thousands of balloons and sets out on the journey as a tribute to his adored partner. Russell, a gutsy young Junior Wilderness Explorer (voiced by Jordan Nagai) has been accidentally included in the liftoff, providing a juxtaposition of characters who learn and grow from each other.
While there are standard action sequences and talking animals, "Up" lives with real characters muddling through deeply human facets of life in ways that are funny, touching and inspirational.
Comments included:
* "The first 10 minutes are so moving, even with few lines"
* "The best animation of the year"
* "A story that is worthy of a great film"
* "Funny, intelligent, touching"
* "I think both kids and adults can enjoy it from different perspectives."
* The Big Screen, written by Bob Habes, appears in Life & Times each Friday.
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