fatsamuraireviews Reviews

Man on a Ledge (2012)

Man on a ledge doesn't have a lot to stand on.

[5/10 · 8 February 2012]

This is an interesting twist on the heist film. I was entertained by the spirit of the film more than the film itself. Let me explain. This film mixes well used elements from previous films and tries to add a fresh new spin by adding the height of a skyscraper. The down side is that there are no new ideas here and no red herrings. This movie telegraphs everything that is going on, no secrets. I appreciate the film for the lack of thought so I just strapped in and enjoyed it. This is defiantly a yellow light film. One that does not make you work for anything and looks good on screen.

War Horse (2011)

The horse that would not quit

[8/10 · 1 February 2012]

The trailer for this film lets you know you're in for an epic emotional journey. Surprisingly, it does not give away anything about the film. I went in thinking that I had seen all of the good parts. I was so wrong. This movie has so much more than just the surface story. There are elements of family, war, pain and hope. It's an intertwining of two stories during WWI: the horse's journey and that of the boy. It's an interesting study of the relationships the horse creates during the journey of the film. This movie is a green light film for its uplifting story about an indomitable spirit. Out of all of the horse movies I have seen this one is now my favorite.

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New Year's Eve (2011)

New Year's Eve is kind of an old new year's eve story.

[3/10 · 25 January 2012]

This movie is like listening to a story from your favorite uncle. You have heard it 15 times before but out of respect you let him tell it again. You give non-committal "Huh" at just the right points but you are really not engaged in the story. New Year's Eve is really a lot like Gary Marshall's earlier holiday film, Valentine's Day. That one took place in Los Angeles and this one is in New York. I fear that his next project will be Arbor Day in Lebanon, KS. As much as I am a fan of his body of work this one only rates a red light. Sorry, Uncle Gary.

New York has a huge cross section of people and different feelings on the holiday that is the focus of this film. The movie gives us the sampling of those views spread over six different groups of people. With so much going on, it's hard to really get behind any one story.

For more of this review go to http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

A green light for the Girl with the Dragon Tat

[8/10 · 16 January 2012]

This is a very harsh movie. I enjoyed the overall film but I was very disturbed by some of the content. There are scenes in this movie that consist of brutal rape, and some extremely horrific murders. Usually I am not a fan of gratuitousness in film, but in this case the violent acts define the characters and the world they are in.

If you go see this, be ready for a film that does not hold back on any of the visceral elements. This is a green light film but consider yourself warned if you go to see it.

Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), an investigative journalist and his research assistant Lisbeth Salander (Roomy Mara) are looking into the disappearance of a girl from over 40 years ago. The main story is mesmerizing but the cast of characters is at times hard to keep up with.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011)

Bring the kids, and enjoy the show.

[5/10 · 9 January 2012]

I remember when I was a kid and this was popular. I guess all things are new again. This is the third of the Alvin movies that have been made. It's a blend of live action and computer animation. The story is cute and will engage kids of 5 and younger but I did not think it needed to be on the big screen. This was a movie that was fine on a straight to DVD release. A mix of pop music and funny life lessons about family that only rates a yellow light.

Alvin and his friends are going on a cruise to attend an international award show. They get into typical Chipmunk shenanigans on the cruse and in a series of events they get swept off the ship and land on an island. Dave (Jason Lee) and his arch nemesis, and previous Chipmunk manager, Ian (David Cross) inadvertently join forces to rescue them.

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Hugo (2011)

Huge win for Hugo

[9/10 · 14 December 2011]

I have not been a fan of 3D movies. They use the 3D technology as a gimmick and not as a part of the composition of the scenes. Hugo is a movie that does the opposite and makes it a component of each scene. This is a great example of how to use 3D as a device to transport the viewer to another place and time. This movie has a mystical setting that lends itself to the magic of filmmaking.

It really took me to places I was not expecting. This story is a homage to the visions of Georges Méliès who was the father of the art of storytelling in film. The Parisian train station setting and the era it took place gives it a feel more like big Broadway stage production. This is a green light film. It is purely and simply magical.

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J. Edgar (2011)

Power corrupts, absolute power ..

[5/10 · 12 December 2011]

J. Edgar Hoover is a unique historical character that can be easily overlooked. He was credited with developing the FBI and organizing criminal investigations to include forensic investigation. With all of the good things he did for us, he was also a focus of scandal and a prime example of how absolute power corrupts absolutely. He was rumored to have surveillance on many political figures and would use them as blackmail material.

Does the movie, J. Edgar, mirror the facts of his life? I can't say I don't know more than what I have read on Wikipedia. Is this an interesting movie? Yes, but from a purely academic standpoint.

For more of this review please go to http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/

The Three Musketeers (2011)

Not for one, not for all.

[2/10 · 3 December 2011]

Take a story that has been done a few times, and add in a new mix of pre steam punk and you have the new Three Musketeers movie. The mix of archaic futuristic technology (I think I made up a term there) and the very stylized fight scenes make this the visual extravaganza that you expect. I was mildly entertained by the CGI shininess but overall this movie left me with a Wild Wild West feeling and that's not a complement.

I wonder what Mr. Dumas would have thought about the result of his work. Could he sue for defamation of character? As much as this story has been redone, just being the eye candy explosion is not enough to make this story worth wile. Other people have done much better with this same story. Red light is the best their cutting wits can muster.

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The Rum Diary (2011)

First Thompson movie you don't need drugs for.

[5/10 · 3 December 2011]

Hunter S. Thompson is a writer that I have never really understood. Perhaps he speaks from a different age or perhaps I don't use enough drugs to really get in touch with his message. This story was probably the most coherent of all of the movies that have been based on his work. This story was his first book but it was not published until later in his life.

I really got the sense that this was his first character that received a call to arms to fight against corruption and people who abused power. As a movie it was not bad. I enjoyed seeing the younger version of Thompson; I think he bases his main characters on himself. I look back on it and I was surprised that it was a complete and understandable story. I liked the journey of the character but it did not speak to me as a viewer. This movie receives a yellow light.

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Tower Heist (2011)

Tower Heist, not your father's heist film.

[14 November 2011]

I try not to judge a movie before I have seen it but I was sorely unimpressed with the trailers for this film. This movie suffers from poor trailer representation. It was a much better film than the trailers made it out to be. However, that does not mean it was a good film. There was some enjoyment for the ride but it did not deliver on great entertainment. I have mentioned in in the past that I am a science fiction fan so I have a good suspension of disbelief skill, but I had some serious issues with this movie from a plausibility standpoint. It was nice to see some old names back on screen. I just hope they do something better next time. I was expecting to give this movie a red light but I have to move it up to a Yellow.

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Real Steel (2011)

Not Just Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots

[9 November 2011]

The trailers made me wonder if I wanted to see a movie based on Rock'Em Sock'Em Robots. My biggest fear was that it was going to be another CGI eye candy extravaganza. Well, I am pleased to say it was not. There is a lot more story than just the robots fighting. The effects were a compliment to the story and not the main reason for the movie. In the near future boxing is taken over by robots. People who once boxed are moved out for people who can use the robots to do the same kind of combat. With the robots doing battle the fights can become a fight to the death only without the death. The story is about a washed up old boxer who is struggling to make a living and also reconnect with his son. This is a green light film.

For more on this review please go to http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/

Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)

Booo, as in scared you, not in this movie is bad...well maybe.

[31 October 2011]

This is the third installment of the Paranormal Activity franchise. It's a prequel of sorts as it fills in more of the backstory of the original film. This movie was originally a one trick pony. The first one had unique premise and it was fine as one movie. This is another example of how an idea can get run into the ground. The few good startling bits were separated by long parts where nothing happened but sleeping and panning. This movie did make me afraid: afraid someone would see me coming out of this movie. For all of its attempts to give us character development, it was not enough to make me interested. This movie scares up a red light.

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The Thing (I) (2011)

The Thing?

[24 October 2011]

I'm a big fan of John Carpeneter's The Thing (1982). A friend introduced it to me and we watched it on TV. It was the first time I noticed how badly swear words were dubbed on network TV. "FRY YOU, PALMER" became our inside joke. The Thing is a prequel to the 1982 movie of the same name. That's not going to get confusing at all. It was going to be a remake but the studio said no, you can't touch this classic. So the next best thing is to do a prequel. This movie brings us the events that led up to the classic film. It was a poor effort and fell short on a few important points. I give it a red light.

For more on this review go to http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/thing-2011.html

The Way (I) (2010)

Show me The Way.

[16 October 2011]

The title of my blog is a blessing and a curse. I walk up and ask "what is showing next?" I have been told that this will subject me to a lot of bad films, and it has. It is the risk I am willing to take because of the amazing movies that come along and surprise me. It is 12:47am and I am so moved by this film that I can't go to sleep until my thoughts are out on paper, or computer that is. The Way is a movie that makes all the bad movies worthwhile. It is the reason why I started to write about film. The Way is a small picture, but it has such a powerful presence that it needs to be the model for big budget films. It was filmed with passion and care. It's a movie that brings you along its journey of self-discovery and invites you to share in the richness of other cultures. This movie has not only earned a green light from me, but it has earned a place among my favorite films.

To see more on this film check out my blog at http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/2011/10/way.html

The Ides of March (2011)

Can I vote "none of the above"?

[13 October 2011]

I was looking forward to watching The Ides of March. The Trailer makes it look like this decade's American President. I was looking for a movie that shows a political campaign and the contenders are faced with moral questions and have to choose between what is right and what is popular. It's a world that has tough choices and the right people make those choices and this movie is going to highlight the difficult journey of those people. Boy was I wrong. This movie was one man's journey from idealist to jaded politician. I want to be clear, I am giving this a Yellow light because of the films problems with story, and not because I was disappointed at the movie's true direction.

To see more on this review please visit http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com

Contagion (2011)

Wash your hands after reading this review.

[11 October 2011]

If you are contemplating a germaphobic lifestyle, I would say you need to see this film. It is a recruitment film for the sterile agenda. It is all about the genesis of a disease and how it can wipe out millions of people because of the way we live and how we interact with one another. The movie is well done but an ensemble cast is sometimes hard to watch. I find myself interested in only some of the characters. This story places several characters as interpreters of the main star, the virus. As a concept this movie was great, it was executed well but overall for entertainment value this movie rates only a sickly yellow light.

For more of this review please see it on http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/

The Debt (I) (2010)

The Debt is paid

[12 September 2011]

This one is going to be hard for me. This move has some great story elements that I do not want to spoil it for you. Let me give you this much, it was a great espionage film that had the all the right elements. The stars did a wonderful job of making the movie entertaining and the story had you on the edge of my seat a few times. The overarching subplots are quite involved and they do a decent job of keeping the past and the present characters in line. I would say that the best part of the film is the dynamic between the characters. For overall entertainment value I give it a green light.

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Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

Crazy, Stupid, Love is Balanced, Brilliant and a great movie.

[8 September 2011]

It has been a while since I have seen a good comedy that layers story elements as finely as this movie did. This film has an excellent sense of comedic timing and was enjoyable to watch. There are three sets of couples all working on finding and defending love. The cast was well chosen and I felt each did a stupendous job in bringing these everyday struggles to light. I really love the humor in this film. I can't remember the last film that made me laugh out loud. The writing was so well done I was completely taken over by the story and taken in with the journey of these characters. This movie gets a green light from me.

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Colombiana (2011)

Besson's actiony goodness

[30 August 2011]

As I watch more movies I have noticed that film makers have signature movies they work really well with. Luc Besson uses the same elements in this movie that worked well in others. If you take a Dash of District B13, mix in some elements of Leon: the Professional and finish off with La Femme Nikita, you have Colombiana. Yes, you might look at this opening line and think "so nothing new or original". Some of the action is the same but this movie does stand out as it's a different story with these elements not a rehash. I know… I know, you are thinking "how can you have the same elements and not be a rehash"? Well let's look at it this way. Action scenes can only be done so many ways, and there are no new ideas. The only newness to them is how you string them together. Besson uses these elements like a master chef blends together ingredients that everyone loves. This movie gets a green light from me. I truly enjoyed the ride this film took me on.

To read more of this review go to http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Great end to a saga.

[1 August 2011]

The Harry Potter franchise comes to an end and it is a spectacular send off. This movie does a stupendous job of tying up the story of Mr. Potter and his friends. The good wizards stand against Voldermort and his Death Eaters in this battle royale of good versus evil. The second half of the final book was my favorite part so I was looking forward to this movie. I loved the climatic landscapes of this movie and the way the story comes alive and makes the magic seem real. It was with bittersweet sadness that I enjoyed watching this movie knowing that there are no more stories coming. Oddly, I did not feel this way when reading the books. I think as I am more of a movie person than a book person I have a stronger connection with the movies. I give this movie a green light. I truly enjoyed myself while watching the film. Take the last trip into Hogwarts and get set to watch a movie franchise close its doors with a bang.

To see more of this review please go to http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Drop what you are doing and go see this film.

[28 July 2011]

Captain my captain; you have come into your own as a movie. MAN I loved this film; it was a perfect example of what a superhero film should be. It made the best of humor and action and told us a story of how a scrawny kid from Brooklyn with a huge heart made a difference in World War II. This movie is one complete origin film that makes a huge springboard for next summer's The Avengers. The people at Marvel have an excellent crew of film makers who understand that humor, action, drama and excellent story telling are key points in film making. This movie gets a green light from me and is a great action ride that is a 'do again' just to let the movie wash over you. I am going to go see it again because it's a movie that looks good on the big screen.

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The Hangover Part II (2011)

The Hangover Part Meh

[12 July 2011]

This movie was a pale rehash of the exact same story from the first movie. Yes, it takes place in Thailand. Yes, there are new shenanigans. No, it's not original or clever or humorous. One bright note I did get to see this movie free of charge, but there was a high price for seeing this film, it was 102 min I will never get back again. I think I got gipped. I am at a loss for words on how bland this movie was. The only character I thought was entertaining was the monkey (Crystal). I think it was Penn Jillette who said it best "there is nothing funnier than a smoking monkey." Unfortunately, this comedy gold is wasted on an extravagant waste of time. Don't get me wrong: I truly enjoyed watching the characters get the tar beat out of them but I don't think it was for the reasons that the filmmakers intended. If you liked the original, just re-watch it. Do not waste your time on this half-assed retread. I am obviously going to give this movie a red light, for failing to do anything more with the characters or the storyline.

X: First Class (2011)

X-Men:First Class a "preboot"

[8/10 · 22 June 2011]

Yes I just made that up. A reboot done in a prequel "Preboot"(patent pending). I get a nickle whenever someone uses it.

X-Men: First Class tells us the story of the origins of Professor X and his school. It takes us back to the beginning even before the Professor was a professor. Learning about how the movie universe started was a good step in setting down the two different versions of the X-Men. Yes this movie takes liberties from the comic books, but it does do a good job of going back and laying out some of the past history between Professor X and Magneto. I liked watching the foundation of the war between the humans and the mutants. We see the development of the relationship and friendship that brings Charles and Eric together and how they worked with the same goal but from two completely different motivations. From an entertainment standpoint, this movie gets a green light from me. I know that some aspects were changed from the comic book but it was still an entertaining movie. Go and see it if you enjoyed any of the previous films.

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Super 8 (2011)

Super 8 is a 10

[10/10 · 17 June 2011]

When I go to a movie I take a notebook. I usually jot down a few items about the movies as I watch. I can look back at my notes and see the movies that really engaged by the amount of notes I take during a movie. For this film, I have only one note in my book: "loved it! " I was completely engaged throughout the picture. Every aspect of this movie was masterfully done. The acting, the storytelling, set design -- everything was done really well. The pace of the story was fine and the balancing act between all of the human emotions is awesome. Some people have said that it's a cross between The Goonies and Cloverfield. I would say "yes and no". I will explain more later. Right now let me go into other aspects of the movie. I am going to give this movie a full-on green light. I count this as a win for J.J. Abrams To read more of my review go here http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/super-8.html

Central Station (1998)

Central Station is well worth the trip..

[9/10 · 9 June 2011]

I have always been a fan of redemption stories. In this movie, Isadora's redemption is done in such a dynamic way that I can say my feelings about her transform with her through her journey. Her quest to bring a young boy to his father makes her face some things from her past she has not dealt with. This movie does a wonderful job of taking us through several settings in Brazil -- from the very rough streets of the city to the laid-back countryside. This movie is a combination of buddy road picture and redemption film. From a filmmaker's standpoint there are several technical aspects of this movie I respect. This is one of the films that I was assigned to watch for a film class. It has a green light from me, please rent this film and enjoy. The movie is not one I would normally seek out. I enjoy foreign films and subtitles do not scare me away, but I didn't think the cover made it sound very interesting. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a hidden gem. It's worth a look.

To see more of this review please go to http://fatsamuraireviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/central-station.html