1 Razor

The Transformers have Fallen and they can’t get up

  • Title: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
  • IMDB: link

transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen-posterI hated Michael Bay’s first Transformers, and this second installment is more of the same only longer, louder, sleazier, and (if possible) dumber.

Part Deux is filled with lazy humor, cheap gags (such as multiple shots of humping dogs and robots), a confusing and ridiculous plot (which is so inane characters twice have to stop and explain it not only to us but each other), big, though not too impressive, special effects, and little else. It’s obvious that Bay and screenwriters Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman love robots (wait, it took three of you to write this movie?). What isn’t obvious is if they give two shits about Transformers, or their fans.

Once again we’re given a plot which has more to do with Sam (Shia LaBeouf) learning a life-lesson and Megan Fox looking hot than Autobots or Decepticons. In fact the Decepticons aren’t even the big baddie here, it’s the Fallen. What is the Fallen? Well, you see, he’s one of a race of seven Primes, ancient Transformer brothers… (the sound you just heard was me dying a little inside).

The Transformers have Fallen and they can’t get up Read More »

Dance Flick

  • Title: Dance Flick
  • IMDB: link

dance-flick-posterWhat are you doing reading a review for this movie? Come to think of it, what was I doing going to a screening of it? You know exactly what this movie is, and you knew before you ever started reading this review whether it’s for you or not.

There are no surprises with Dance Flick. What you see is what you get, most of it bad. The new film from the Wayan Bros. is yet another entry into the sub-genre of cheap parody films which has produced one or two fun flicks, such as the first Scary Movie, but also filled up the DVD bargain bin at your local Best Buy and the late night B-movie channels on cable.

Dance Flick isn’t one of the better entries into the genre, but at least it’s not the worst. I guess that’s something, right? It is however perplexing. Don’t get me wrong, the entire dance film genre deserves to get poked with a stick, but the idea of centering most of the plot around an eight-year-old film isn’t exactly timely.

Dance Flick Read More »

‘Mummy’ Not Worth Reawakening

  • Title: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
  • IMDB: link

Hollywood is always trying to reinvent and repackage the same movies, like Indiana Jones, over and over again.  It’s partially forgivable because the formula is a great one that, even when it gives out to tired premises and homages, can yield some decent thrills.  But on the flip side are movies like The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor that fail to create a single thrill.

It’s been ten years since the events of the last ‘Mummy’ installment – ten years during which main characters Rick (Brendan Fraser) and Evie (Maria Bello, replacing a Rachel Weisz who wasn’t interested in returning) have miraculously not seemed to have aged at all.  They’ve given up the risk of their adventures in putting down ancient Egyptian pharoh Imhotep, deciding instead to live off of the riches made from Evie’s semi-autobiographical novels called ‘The Mummy’ and ‘The Mummy Returns’ (what, no ‘The Scorpion King?’)

‘Mummy’ Not Worth Reawakening Read More »

7 Lessons from the Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

  • Title: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
  • IMDB: link

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor is the latest from the movie franchise which has spawned prequels and sequels.  Brandon Frasier returns to stop a Mummy, this time with the help of Maria Bello (who takes over for Rachel Weisz), their brash young son (Luke Ford, in a performance everyone will want to forget), and a mysterious Asian woman (Isabella Leong) who holds answers to their questions.

Ridiculous from beginning to end, instead of a review I’m going to give you some of the “highlights” of the flick which provides some lessons worth discussing.  For more on the ins and outs of the film itself check out Ian’s review.

7 Lessons from the Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Read More »

Never Back Down

  • Title: Never Back Down
  • IMDB: link

“Win, lose, it makes no difference.  This is my fight; everyone’s got one.”

never-back-down-poster

Ripping off the plot of The Karate Kid the film focuses on a high school student in a new school trying to fit in only to get bullied by the local martial arts stud (Cam Gigandet).  Jake (Sean Faris) is an angry young man who blames himself for the death of his father (Steve Zurk), and although he is never looking for a fight, somehow one always manages to find him.

Jake makes the move with his little brother (Wyatt Smith) and mother (Leslie Hope) who disappears for large stretches of the film only to show up to treat her son like shit, until, of course, the plot calls for her to gain insight and understanding and support him in his big moment.

Never Back Down Read More »