Mini Review Tuesday!

I've been flying abroad quite a bit this year and I have been watching some of the inflight movies that I didn't bother watching in the cinema. Since I saw them on the five inch screen, I'll briefly state my thoughts, as that size doesn't provide you with the full impact that a movie should. 

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone

A washed up magician has to update his act when faced with a younger rival on the Las Vegas strip.  

The first time I saw a commercial for this movie I decided that it was something that I wanted nothing of. Let me guess? Steve Carell would play his "clueless guy" act as a floundering magician by the name of Burt Wonderstone. Voila! I was RIGHT! However, the rest of the cast made the movie much more fun that I ever expected. Steve Buscemi as the clever sidekick, Anton, balanced out Burt's over-the-top cluelessness. Jane (Olivia Wilde) is smart and sexy on the screen. Steve Gray is an almost unrecognizable Jim Carrey who does a Chris Angel act to the umpteenth degree. 100 minutes of unexpected entertainment. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790628/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 

 Jack the Giant Slayer

The classic tale of Jack and the beanstalk takes a dark turn.

This was a surprise. I was expecting this to be a children's movie. Good guys. Bad giants. Good triumphs in the end. Naturally, it was like that, but there was a tremendous amount of terrifying violence in between. The cast is pretty good. Impressive special effects. Neat twist to the classic tale. Bill Nighy is one of the voice talents! 114 minutes. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1351685/?ref_=nv_sr_1

 

Identity Thief

A man's life is turned upside down when his identity is stolen.

I'm sorry. I thought I was tired of Jason Batemen and his comedies. I was wrong. Team him up as a regular guy, Sandy Patetrson, who has his identity stolen by Diana (Melissa McCarthy) and the mayhem ensues. A load of fun. 111 minutes.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024432/?ref_=nv_sr_1 

 Dark Shadows

Tim Burton's large screen adaptation of the vampire soap opera.

I call this unfortunate. Great cast. Fun movie. NO ONE CARES. Dark Shadows was a thing decades ago. Most people have never even heard of it. I did, but never saw it. I couldn't care less about Barnadas Collins, and why make a movie about him? Burton made a bad choice with this, but he still made it an amusing movie to watch. 113 minutes.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1077368/?ref_=nv_sr_ 

The Great Gatsby (2013)

A bond broker is sucked into the the fast paced world of New York's privileged rich.

Back when I was in high school THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald was required reading. I wonder if the fact that the story takes place in pre-Depression era NYC and Long Island. Based on that I wanted to see this movie, but was seriously concerned that it would drag and be dull. While this movie is well over two hours, the excellent acting and directing keeps your attention as you delve into the mysterious life of  Jay Gatsby, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Even though the title is Gatsby, the story is told from the perspective of bond broker Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) who is truly the central figure. Like the book, the movie is a chain of excess, action, intrigue, honesty, treachery, adventure, heart-break, love, jealousy, gluttony, etc. that can only be told with a back-drop of post World War One USA with a combination of classical music and New York's own modern hip hop music. A wonderful blend and a beautiful interpretation of the original tome. 142 minutes.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/?ref_=nv_sr_1

 Oz the Great and Powerful

A prequel to the classic Wizard of Oz.

I was expecting a cheesy kid flick from this. Apparently I forgot how terrifying the original movie was, and this fell in suit. The charlatan Oz (James Franco) makes his way through some magical land and has to choose sides in a feud among three beautiful witches. Great cast. Seamless animation. Directed by Sam Raimi. 130 minutes. Yep. Check it out! It's worth it just to see the transformation of Mila Kunis from cutesy and skipping along into the green skinned Wicked Witch of the West!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623205/?ref_=nv_sr_1