Gustavo_Lequerica Reviews

Armored (2009)

Armored Movie Review

[6/10 · 7 December 2009]

Is true that Matt Dillon is an amazing actor but in his latest movie the only words that I can think about it's "This movie has talent like no other action movie but sucks", it's a train wreck compared to other action movies who had less known people and still made an impact. The plot is simple "Guards that work moving vast amounts of money from different business to safe places decide to make a move and retire early as millionaires" Sounds familiar? Maybe it's the same premise of Ocean's 13 except on a different setting and with less sexy but bulkier characters.

Essentially this movie can be forgiven to be a clone of Ocean's 13 if at least the plot wasn't so filled with clichés and messy which makes the viewer (unless you are a fan of action movies with little plots) wants to stand up and do something else. It's true that the film could be better but there are so many plotting conveniences that make the movie an entire excuse to produce an action flick i.e. when Ward announces that their vehicles will be equipped with G.P.S. damn my own vehicle have a G.P.S. so that means that I can go and steal a bank? I don't think so and I don't think I would recommend somebody to see this movie but if you are a fanatic of Quentin Tarantino I can highly recommend it because Andrzej Sekula is the lead of the visual effects and those effects in Armored are awesome (Also Andrzej directed the unofficial sequel of cult movie Cube from Vincenzo Natali, Hypercube ).

Up in the Air (I) (2009)

The Peak of Clooney's Career

[9/10 · 6 December 2009]

There is something about George Clooney that it's charming that even in the most boring roles he can captivate the audience like nobody else. Definitely the movie Up in The Air is not an epic saga from our times but it's a simple charming movie that can make a date something fun and enjoyable because it's a movie made for couples that so far is on the buzz for Oscar Nominations because of the incredible acting (maybe the Academy is going on roles that are more realistic and less glamorous Sandra Bullock is also on the spotlight for an Oscar Nomination for her movie The Blind Side) Many critics as it was said previously are predicting Oscar Noms for George Clooney and they are speculating that new comer Anna Kendric is slowly but steady positioning herself in the A-list of Hollywood because her roles in successful movies like Up in the Air and the Twilight franchise.

In the movie George Clooney plays a transition specialist whose jobs it's to fire people for corporation executives who don't have the nerves to fire people themselves; after acting like the servant to many executives Ryan Bingham starts to feel some happiness doing that but as soon he finds that the company he works for hired a new person to play on Ryan's role without even leave her office Ryan starts to feel anguished that his days on the company are counted. Critics are calling this movie the peak of Clooney's career and maybe they are right because at his age and success it's hard to see George on other types of roles specially after many years being typecast as the Romantic Comedy Lead (I guess he suffered the Meg Ryan Syndrome) it's going to be difficult to see him on action or horror roles, but he always can go on the director seat and do something amazing because he has consolidated his name to be a money making machine worldwide. Maybe it's true that George has moved on since his Fact of Life days to become an household name.

Heroes (II) (2006–2010)

Heroes: Days of the Future Past?

[6/10 · 5 December 2009]

This is probably going to be one my last articles of Heroes but I decided to do it just to take out the idea out of my chest. When somebody talk about a television show that went wrong the best one to describe is Charmed but the second example is none other than Heroes due the poor creative crew and the poor use of ideas with the script and the poor direction that the show took over the years; the truth if the show is canceled or not it's something I don't care because after many years on the air the show is on a spot that nobody don't know what is going to happen and after reusing the same characters over and over again much of the public is bored to see the same premises over and over in the four seasons of the show. The writers never knew what to do with Sylar , sure that Zachary Quinto is a great actor but the writers weren't going to be idiots to write out probably the only actor who kept the show alive beyond the second year or as I like to say they weren't going to let out their cash cow.

I am really bored to see the same thing in every season, I am bored to see that the writers contradict everything and how the adjust everything to keep the status quo in someway; it's boring to see Claire trying to find herself in every freaking season, it's boring or better say it was boring to see Peter with the inferiority complex, it's annoying to see that the show never evolved and probably it won't because the days of that show are counted. Maybe the biggest mistake that the executives made was to leave Tim Kring as the runner up and Joseph Loeb as an executive, they did a great first season but then they ran out of good ideas and know they are trying to make something interesting of a show that has turned extremely dull. The fourth season started great, strong and it looked promising but after the season went on it got worse up to the point that much of the episodes show stories that don't connect with each other and the characters seemed to be lost from what one was their path. If it's true that the show is going to be on for another season the producers and NBC executives should do something to improve it and ended it as it started with brilliance and a big explosion.

Heroes: Chapter Eleven 'The Fifth Stage' (2009) Season 4, Episode 11

The Fifth and the Last Chapters

[5/10 · 2 December 2009]

After watching the first volume of Season Four of Heroes it's difficult to think about the direction where the show is heading. The first two chapters were really good and they gave an idea that Season Four was going to be amazing but then it came the repetition of themes that were saw in Season 3 and part of Season 1, I explain: Claire trying to find his place, Sylar being the main villain or stock character because there hasn't been any developments with the character and in my opinion season 3 was the good season to kill the character off but then because Zachary Quinto got more fame due the reboot of Star Trek the writers and producers weren't going to be stupid to end the contract of the most popular actor of the series and that story-lines are being re-used under different concepts. There is little originality on Volume 5 compared to Volume Four due the issues I mentioned for the exception that I like to think that it was the volume that gave a character to redeem himself from his previous actions but according to some gossip in the IMDb.com there are going to be more episodes with Adrian Pasdar. but I think that is bogus information.

I try to think what could damage the show and there are a few facts that could think about beside the writer strike who depleted the show ratings, the departure of Bryan Fuller who was the creative soul of the show because Tim Kring don't know anything about the nerd culture and the superhero scene, the show is going into a path that it's really hard to predict because of that. Maybe the reason the show is failling it's because of his creator and none other else that is acting on charge too much without giving responsibilities to other people or hiring new writing talent that can lift the show from his actual slumber but still one great show that is an homage to superheroes is going to a spiral due the lack of creative personnel.

The last episode of Volume 5 was non-sequential in someway, it didn't gave any detail about Volume 6; the stories weren't interconnected at all and the only probable hint about what is going to happen is a rebellion of mutates lead by a charismatic but sociopath individual. I see something similar as the Caitlin character in Gretchen Berg... or I should better say both characters have suffered the Chuck Cunningham Syndrome. The episode in general to be a closer was relatively boring except for the goodbye between Nathan-Sylar and Peter before Sythan regained his true self, I guess at the end we have to wait until January 2010 to know what is going to happen in the rest and if the series don't last for a fifth season it better have a good ending that explains all the gaps in the series.

Family Guy: Dog Gone (2009) Season 8, Episode 8

Dog Gone - Family Guy Episode Review

[9/10 · 29 November 2009]

This is probably one of the best episodes I've ever seen because it deals with the dilemma of animal rights and animal cruelty. The episode it's center around Brian and how he sees that many people on a shallow level doesn't seem to care when he kills another dog by accident and throws the corpse in a ditch; after that Brian embarks on a crusade to promote animal equality but only to find that much of the people he invites to the first meeting of his animal right coalition don't cares about animals at all, that leads Brian to a depressive state where Stewie after committing a crime where leads to think the family that Brian died in a fire they only express how much they miss Brian, making Brian happy one more time.

There is one truth behind this episode even if it was shown in the most cruel way by exposing some sadistic sequences involving animal cruelty and that's how many people neglect the less wanted from society, maybe it was a little too much the graphic sequences involving animals and how they were killed but at least the message was given. On a side story Lois hires the unnamed housemaid that was shown in Stewie Kills Lois and we learn that her name is Consuela (voiced by Mike Henry) and she is dominant toward the Griffins.

The Cleveland Show: From Bed to Worse (2009) Season 1, Episode 8

From Bed To Worse

[4/10 · 29 November 2009]

Clearly there is something in The Cleveland Show that is not the same as his father show Family Guy, the sense of humor it's basically different it's not mature because is not similar as King of the Hill and it have the same shocking humor but it's not funny at all or it doesn't have memorable moments yet in his first season.

Today episode From Bed to Worse (A clearly pun on From Better to Worse) consists basically of two separate stories that are linked at the beginning of the episode; the first and main story shows a struggle of power to have the affection of Donna between Cleveland Sr and Rallo. The second story is divided in two sections, the first one it's between Tim the Bear and his wife who got their grove back by having sex in the capitol and the second section of the second story is how Cleveland Jr. saved his stepsister Roberta by showing his man-boobs to a group of men with high libido in a Washington Club. I don't know if this show is going to last as American Dad or Family Guy, it's a little boring.

The Simpsons: Rednecks and Broomsticks (2009) Season 21, Episode 7

Rednecks and Broomsticks Episode Review

[9/10 · 29 November 2009]

One thing that I like about the 21st season of The Simpson's it's that it's taking the strengths the show it had on the first season. The last week episode deal with the obsession that many people have with the "organic food" and now this episode took a much serious approach on massive hysteria that people have regarding the unknown, which I thought it was fantastic but the script was a little weak compared to last week episode. In Rednecks and Broomsticks while coming back from a ski vacation the family has to make an emergency stop that makes Homer hang out with Cletus as soon he discovers that Cletus makes an illegal liquor that Homer grows fond of it; on the second story while the stay with Cletus and his family Lisa got lost in the woods while playing hide and seek and she meets a Wicca coven which she befriends with but while Lisa is investigating about Wicca beliefs Ned Flanders thinks she is worshiping the devil and start a series of events that almost kill Lisa new friends. I give this episode a 3.5 over 5 because it was original and enjoyable to watch. On a side note do you know that the guest star of this episode Neve Campbell started in another Wiccan themed movie called The Craft.

Heroes: Chapter Ten 'Thanksgiving' (2009) Season 4, Episode 10

Thanksgiving - Let's Fill The Turkey!

[8/10 · 26 November 2009]

At last one episode that I truly like this season and is a Holiday episode. The positive aspect of this episode was that in the narrative structure was more like season one episodes as the reason is it was divided into three stories that seemingly interact with each other… except with this case was with Thanksgiving.

In the first story we see a Petrelli Thanksgiving reunion in which nothing really happened except that it was the first time we see Sylar back in his own body and the omen of "Nathans" end. There was more of exploration of the Nathan/Sylar paradox which let me to think that the writers had the idea of using the Ultimate Gwen Stacy character in which two character are fused into one leaving one character with the characteristics of the other one and maybe in this case it will be a more compassionate Sylar who is going to have the stoicism of Nathan.

The second story was with the Bennetts, this so far was the least interesting story of all the three presented because it didn't showed anything interesting except that Claire is going to explore the Sullivan Brothers Circus, which let me to think that the writers had to find an excuse to write off Madeline Zima character of the series.

The third story and in my opinion the most interesting one of the three revolved around the Sullivan Circus which at least was exposed who killed Joseph Sullivan than none other than Samuel in a fist of rage but to cover his crime he continued to lie to the other circus performers that their charismatic leader was killed by someone else. In a weird thought now the fourth season it's started to gather strength in his narrative and the dynamics and it even gave the looks that the show can survive without becoming a clone of Charmed .

Heroes: Chapter Nine 'Brother's Keeper' (2009) Season 4, Episode 9

Brother's Keeper Episode Review

[5/10 · 17 November 2009]

If this show really last for a fifth season it's going to suffer a lot without the CGI but maybe right now the show is suffering but not for the computer generated imagery but rather due the poor script to try to emulate the effects of season one Season Four had been so far greater than season 3 but it has been chaotic and slow, maybe I am expecting a divided arc much like season three who was divided opposite to season one, maybe season four is more close to season 1 but still the show is going on a slow pace and since more characters are being written out of the show, Heroes it's basically right now a melodrama between a small group of altruistic people versus an army of super powered individuals who hide as a circus; if we have to blame somebody we can blame on the second season or the writer strikes, but the real deal to blame are the writers who took the direction of the show into something that so far seems so boring and a little bit filled with plot holes around certain characters that not even the comic series can explain.

Brother's Keeper wasn't that bad it was more of an episode centering on the relation between the Petrelli brothers and how Sylar-Nathan regained the other part of himself creating an inner conflict that probably deleted the personality of the villain. That's basically the main story of the episode; the side one was Hiro trying to save Mohinder much like he saved Charlie but with the purpose to retrieve a movie about Samuel past but there aren't elements that gives to the viewers something more specifically about Samuel himself except that he was born in Coyote Mesa or his master plan. It's so hard to predict the direction of the show because of the constant changes that are almost every week and even so it's difficult to know the evolution of the characters or if there is going to be new ones. I was trying to think about what positive changes the show could have and two I thought, the first one modify Sylar (or bring back Adrian Pasdar and revision Heroes cash cow Zachary Quinto) character to make it more humane and less corny and write off Mohinder Suresh for good... maybe tat could help but at the end I'm just talking to myself.

Kenny vs. Spenny (2002–2010)

Simple, Fun and Entertaining

[10/10 · 20 December 2006]

I don't know what it's the appeal of this show that it makes so entertaining up to the point it's a guilty pleasure to watch it every single time on Showtime. Maybe the appeal of this show lays on his simple Darwinian premise to see who is the strongest one Kenny or Spenny? But also the premise of the show is related to how we competed with our friends when we were kids and maybe that's the main reason why Kenny Vs Spenny is so fun to watch because it can bring memories to anyone who is watching these two friends compete each other every week to see how is the best. I give a ten to this show because it's original and both characters are sincere and honest with their intentions.

Cube²: Hypercube (2002)

A good second part of the franchise, but not a sequel.

[10/10 · 4 August 2005]

The cube franchise is a good horror movie pack. The tree movies have different points of view of the cube; the first movie had an industrial theme, the cube seems more like endless elevators with deadly traps, the second one had a technological avant Gard point of view plus had some similarities between the characters of the first movie, that explore how they get into the cube; the prequel cube Zero is the less complex movie but it had the premise of what is outside the cube and what are the purpose of the cube.

The second movie, I say is more a remake with an abrupt ending than sequel, the character between the first two movies have some similarities, but the still this movie can get apart from the first one.

The plot doesn't add something new to franchise but the perils of the cube can make the movie exciting, talking more about the cube It was really fun that the producers took the claustrophobia of the cube to new levels by painting the walls with white so the deep can have no deep perception at all, but it was more fun to see the cube looking like a industrial factory this time was OK too because the cube looks gave a futuristic dystopia future.

Fantastic Four (I) (2005)

The Two and half Fantastics Hours.

[8/10 · 4 August 2005]

The new summer blockbuster hit is a enjoyable movie for all the family, where they can spend two wonderful hours together. The movie is aimed for much a teen audience than an adult audience, but still adults will enjoy this movie and fans of the Marvel comic books will find this movie pleasant. Although is not followed the original time line of the Marvel Comics.

As in my own experience in the theater, the movie was more enjoyed by teens and teens rather than most of the adults, but still I heard the comments of some adults saying " that the movie was fun, and they were glad to bring their children to watch it together.

One of the most important part in movie based on superheroes comics is that the actors and actresses portraying the characters, known the mannerisms of the role they are playing so at the moment to convince the audience, the audience can accept and believe the role they are playing. Knowing about the comic books I believe that the main character portrayed very well their roles in this adaptation.

I have to give a cheer to Jessica Alba, because the mainstream public can see, she have moved away from her role in Honey; and she can appeal to more fantastic and serious roles, like her "Nancy Callahan" her role in Frank Miller's Sin City. Also I like to appoint this movie can show how versatile actor Michael Chiklis is, portraying the role of The Thing, and this movie can help to introduce Ioan Gruffud to a more diversify audience in America.

At many comic books adaptations in to movies, there are some comic book characters that are submitted to changes in the movie versions of the comics books; in this version of the Fantastic Four the character Alicia Masters was changed from a young Caucasian woman to beautiful African American woman. Kerry Washington did an splendid performance of the blind sculptress.

A change that was made in the movie, was the origins of Doctor Doom; it was a change that the fanatics of the comic series didn't like to much, although Julian McMahon did a decent job conserving the essence of the villain in the movie. This is the character that had most changes in the film version, but is fun to see Doctor Doom in a new scenario beyond the comic books universe.

Even this movie suffered changes it's still fun to see this movie, the changes are less to important because people will enjoy it and can spend two hours sitting in a movie theater and forget about the problems they have for just one moment.