The Smurfs is certainly not a very good movie but it did provide a few laughs – which is more than I can say about The Hangover Part II – and the animation, while nothing special, is still decent enough.
Author: TheMovieman
Bad Teacher Blu-ray Review
By no means is Bad Teacher a good film but Cameron Diaz, as well as Jason Segel for his limited part, gave it their best in spite of a script with few laughs and a flat plot that never really came to life.
From Dusk Till Dawn Series Blu-ray Review
This “Miramax Multi-Feature” set from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment packages together one good movie, a decent making-of documentary and two bad sequels. While all four features are on one disc, I thought each didn’t look too bad, though something like Full Tilt Boogie was not made for high-def and it shows.
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Cars 2 3D Blu-ray Review
Cars 2 is proof that no studio is perfect and they all have missteps and hopefully this will be Pixar’s only one for the next 10 years. When it comes to the movie itself, there is some charming moments but they are too far and between and usually interrupted by Mater’s annoying persona.
Captain America Blu-ray Review
Captain America: The First Avenger has a few things going for it, mostly in the set design, costume design and cinematography but most everything else was standard and unimaginative including actor Chris Evans himself. There’s certainly a fine jump off point for this potential franchise I think in the hands of a better director, it could achieve so much more.
Faces in the Crowd Blu-ray Review
Faces in the Crowd hardly breaks new ground in the genre, but it has a few things going for it Milla Jovovich turns in a good performance, the mystery aspects are at least compelling and what writer/director Magnat does by putting the audience in the main character’s mindset is unique and effective.
Robot Chicken: Season 5 Blu-ray Review
“Robot Chicken” is easily one of the funniest shows on television and a personal favorite of mine. This fifth season, while not the strongest in its run, has some funny bits and like before, a great collection of guest voice talents. Seth Green and company also know how to package a home video release with plenty of features to justify the price given each episode is only 11-12 minutes long.
Monte Carlo Blu-ray Review
Monte Carlo doesn’t break any new ground and is in fact predictable in almost every aspect of the story. The direction is only average even though they managed to film in two of the most beautiful cities in the world and yet thanks to Selena Gomez and the safe story, there’s a certain amount of charm. Now, this isn’t a film that will resonate for me beyond this review but I think enough of it works to make it at least a lukewarm recommendation.
Indian Summer Blu-ray Review
Indian Summer is a great film that hits all the right notes. It not only brings out the nostalgia for anybody who has attended summer camp but the story is well rounded with the right balance of comedy and drama. The cast is also pitch perfect with the highlights coming from Bill Paxton, Diane Lane and Alan Arkin.
Pulp Fiction Blu-ray Review
While Pulp Fiction isn’t a masterpiece of filmmaking as some might contend, it’s still a very well made picture with the sharp writing we expect from Tarantino and one of the better ensemble casts put together.
The Ledge Blu-ray Review
The Ledge has some things going for it with two good performances and two others that are pretty much forgettable, but worse yet, the story doesn’t quite connect and even so, it’s so heavy handed and one-sided that it plays it too safe in making one character somewhat tolerable while the other has little redeemable value, though they try to give him a dramatic back story.
Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur Blu-ray Review
Scooby-Doo: Legend of the Phantosaur is a solid entry into the long-running, enduring animated franchise. Obviously if you’ve one, you’ve basically seen them all, but for the most part this is a fun movie for the whole family with good humor, at least a half-decent mystery (even if you can see who the villain is 5 miles away) and fine voice talents.
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Airplane! Blu-ray Review
Airplane is a timeless comedy, one where one doesn’t necessarily have to get the references in order to find it funny. The Blu-ray, a Best Buy exclusive at the time of this writing, has a good video transfer and adequate audio.
Scream 4 Blu-ray Review
Scream 4 might’ve come a few years too late after the last installment, but I for one enjoyed it as Wes Craven and company were able to update the franchise for the 21st century. The original cast slips into their roles nicely while the new generation offer up a certain and needed freshness, though writer Williamson didn’t succumb to the horror sequel clichés (though there a few).
Mimic Blu-ray Review
As far as creature features go, Mimic is a well made movie, but little more than that. The characters are fairly one-dimensional despite the attempts in fleshing them out, though it was enough to give reason for at least the two main something to fight for. The effects and creature designs aren’t anything spectacular yet still evoke enough fear to give them weight and danger.