manofsnowballs Reviews

The Bag Man (I) (2014)

Great performance and entertaining movie!

[8/10 · 24 March 2014]

I watched this movie last night on a wonderful Sunday evening. With John Cusack starring and a few other well known actors I had a feeling this movie would be interesting. The last movie I saw with John Cusack was Grand Piano which was amazing. The Bag Man is about John Cusack transporting a mysterious bag that he is not supposed to look in, then wait at a seedy motel in the middle of no where, where he will get paid for his services.

Seems like a simple concept for a movie, however, many unique characters enter the scene to try to steal the bag for themselves. The story becomes a game of survival, and John Cusack meets a girl who thinks she is going to be killed by the shady people she is with at the hotel. John and this girl, Rebecca Da Costa, they both team up to fend off anyone who is trying to steal the bag which seems like everyone that is around this motel even the cops.

The acting is decent enough to hold the movie together. You do get drawn in knowing that there is going to be a few twists to really make this movie pop. Also Crispin Glover is in this movie, so that is pretty unique. The action in this movie hits pretty hard, the fight/gun scenes are very realistic and visually make an raw impact. I recommend this movie to John Cusack fans and many others, it is a nice movie to watch at home, maybe not the best date movie unless she enjoys this kind of style!

Till next time, don't wear a man bag.

Jason Lucas Facebook - THOUGHTS OF A MOVIE ADDICT

Delivery Man (2013)

Absolutely wonderful movie

[8/10 · 20 March 2014]

Delivery Man TRAILER

Absolutely wonderful movie, I watched this gem on the plane ride to Dominican Republic and was very pleased to say Vince Vaughn did an excellent job and Cobie Smulders was fantastic, plus adorable. Yes this is a remake of the original movie called Starbuck, however, if you are dead set that remakes are crap then walk away, if not then this will be a nice cozy to movie to watch at home. One fun fact before you judge this "remake" is that both original and this movie was written and directed by the same guy, Ken Scott. Definitely a date night movie or a light feeling movie that will leave you with a smile on your face.

The combination of comedy and emotion throughout this movie is a wonderful mix. David Wozniak, Vince Vaughn, donated to a fertility clinic 20 years ago to make money as a young man and now when he is older finds out he is the father of 533 children. David is an underacheiver and works at the family business as a terrible meat truck driver. When he finds out he is "Starbuck" he turns from scared to curious about the 533 children and from here the movie takes off into humor and an emotional rollarcoaster for David.

As the movie progresses we see David grow up from an immature adult to a mature father of 533 children. I highly recommend this fun movie with a great story behind it!

Till next time, never guess the ending.

47 Ronin (2013)

Such an amazing culture of Honor and Courage

[9/10 · 20 March 2014]

I would like to say with a 175 Million dollar budget this movie is a visual spender of effects and fantastically detailed shots. No technology was spared in the making of this movie. I loved the imagery of this movie and really felt inside that world. Duty and justice before the fear of death is what the 47 Ronin did, and their actions will forever be remembered and is know to be one of the biggest acts of Honor in the Japanese culture. Every year in December, the 47 Ronin are paid their respects by people from all around the world.

Directed by Carl Rinsch as his Directorial debut demonstrates his great talent in the film making industry. Starring, Keanu Reeves and many other great Japanese actors, this movie centers around Honor and the samurai. The story plays out beautifully giving you all the information and emotion that allows you to create a connection with the characters. This movie draws you in causing feelings that you did not expect a movie could do, I loved seeing the strength of Honor in the Japanese culture that this movie illustrates. I was drawn into this movie from the first few minutes and I did not look away.

Do this movie justice and watch it on a big screen! Keanu Reeves did a fine performance as well if you were wondering if he would bring this movie down or not. He brought a great performance making me hope he continues to stay in the spotlight of movies. I also really enjoyed his Man of Tai Chi movie. Keanu Reeves and Martial Arts go very well together in my opinion.

Till next time, watch Man of Tai Chi!

Jason Lucas www.facedownent.blogspot.com FOR MORE REVIEWS! Facebook - THOUGHTS OF A MOVIE ADDICT

Veronica Mars (2014)

Feels like a long Episode, not enough depth!

[7/10 · 20 March 2014]

Unfortunately I never watched the series when it was on TV so I went into this movie knowing that I would not fully understand the background of most characters. However, I went into watching it knowing that some of the audience would be in the same position as myself so I wanted to see a decent enough stand alone movie.

This film was funded by a Kickstarter campaign that racked up close to 6 Million dollars and broke records on Kickstarter for fastest campaign to exceed 1 Million and 2 Million dollars. Lots of the people who helped fund the movie where recruited as extras in the movie. A funny cameo is of Dax Shepard in a club who is Kristen Bell's real-life husband. He is always such a funny guy.

During the movie I felt that there was not much depth to the emotions and characters, felt as though it was still part of the series or an episode just lengthened into a movie. The story was decent and kept me watching, however, I wanted more intensity. The humor was a great part of the movie, had a few great laughs. There were a lot of characters I thought that did not get much introduction, which I assume I missed since I did not watch the series. Non the less, this movie was enjoyable to watch at home. Kristen Bell is a great actress and held here own in this movie. This is no Sherlock Holmes movie, however, it is a fun mystery movie that could easily get a few sequels of different mysteries for Veronica to solve.

Check it out if you are a fan, if you are not a fan it is a basic mystery movie with minimal depth to the characters besides Veronica.

Till next time, watch Hit N Run

Jason Lucas THOUGHTS OF A MOVIE ADDICT Face Down Entertainment

300: Rise of an Empire (2014)

Amazing graphically orgasmic action movie!

[9/10 · 20 March 2014]

The movie starts out 10 years before the original 300 with an awesome battle scene between the Athenians led by Themistokles and the Persians, in which Themistokles kills the Persian king in front of the Persian Prince. Artemisia, the Persian kings most trusted general manipulates the prince(now king) into believing that he is Xerxes "The God King" and that he must conquer the Greeks. Xerxes sends his navy, commanded by Artemisia to squash the ragtag bunch of ship that Themistokles has assembled between the city states of Greece, while he takes his army to battle the Spartans at the Hot Gates.

The movie focuses on naval strategy between Artemisia and Themistokles, and the mind games played between the two of them, including a sex/fight scene. The movie has excellent CGI during the battle scenes, transitioning from very fast to slow motion seamlessly. There's also plenty of 3D blood spatter to really let the audience in on the violence of war. The only downside to the movie is how quickly the plot moves along. The movie is 102 minutes and 80 of minutes are fighting. If they had made the movie longer to better develop the plot then I believe that it would have just as good as the original, however with the quick storyline it isn't quite as good. Overall this is a very good movie that any action movie fan would really enjoy. The action is incredible and worth seeing in the theater to become immersed in the intensity of the stylistic battle scenes and action sequences.

Written by Zack Snyder and Directed by a relatively new face, Noam Murro. This movie definitely deserves its R Rating. With a budget of 100 Million and an anticipated first weekend of making over 45 Million this movie will easily be in a comfortable profit zone for a potential sequel to make the 300 movies into an epic Trilogy.

Till next time, more movies, less work.

Matt Lamer Guest THOUGHTS OF A MOVIE ADDICT

American Hustle (2013)

Too much glitter, not enough movement

[5/10 · 20 March 2014]

A movie that I thought was going to be a full speed ahead Hustling movie turned into a long detailed storyline movie. This reminded me of a HIGHLY GLOSSY Killing Them Softly or The Counsellor, both great movies, however this American Hustle was just such a sugar coated movie it was ridiculous. I understand the deserved nominations and awards but to me this was a long drawn out story with not too much interest sake for me other than Amy Adams. Don't get me wrong, one of my favorite actors is Christane Bale, but it was the way the movie was executed did not fully keep my attention satisfied. I found my mind wandering around during the whole movie really, thinking about why isn't it shorter, or why is there so much "glitter" going on when it could of been toned down.

Extravagant lifestyle I get that, the vision and feel they wanted to portray for this time period of when the story was happening. Not sure if I was completely sold on the environment.

Storyline seemed like a better book read than a movie watch. I was first tempted to buy this movie before it came out but now after watching it on the plan from Dominican Republic I am not going to buy it. A little disappointing for me, oh well. Great movie for awards season for sure, had the exact right components of a winning movie. I should have expected not the most fast paced movie and more story but the "glitter" and "glorified'ness" of the movie through me off completely.

At 138 mins this is a seat sweater for sure, 14A for cleavage and a shot or two of Amy Adams nips. Budget of 40 million dollars for "glittering" everything up, mostly hairspray and deep plunging dresses. Grossing at 146 Million this movie is quite a hard watch in my eyes.

Till next time, take a break from plunging cleavage dresses.

Jason Lucas THOUGHTS OF A MOVIE ADDICT www.facedownent.blogspot.com

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