The Internship - Movie Review

It could be Wedding Crashers all over again as Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson team up once again as salesman who must change careers. They end up in the digital age at Google, working as interns with a bunch of young twenty-somethings.

Cast

Shawn Levy directs this film and it will be the second collaboration with Vaughn and Jared Stern, who produced the movie with Vaughn. The three worked together on 2012's The Watch. Vaughn and Wilson play Billy and Nick, the main characters, but the supporting cast is solid. Rose Byrne, who was great in Bridesmaids, is just as good as a love interest to Nick. John Goodman has a small role as Billy and Nick's former boss and you'll recognize B.J. Novak, of The Office fame, and Max Minghella of the Social Network.

Summary

Billy and Nick are fired after Goodman tells them that he is closing his business. The two fast-talking salesmen search for new jobs when Billy finds the answer - a coveted internship at one of the world's biggest companies, Google. Billy and Nick compete with the much younger crowd for the opportunity to get hired by the company. Along the way there is a tremendous amount of sarcasm, typical of Vaughn, and humor as Vaughn and Wilson rib their younger cohorts. As in Wedding Crashers, they will become mentors for their new young socially awkward friends. Vaughn and Wilson, and the many others, will also get to wear funny, colorful hats. Yes, the ones with the propeller on top.

Review

While it might look like a two-hour commercial for Google, the film is entertaining. Vaughn and Wilson and their brand of slapstick comedy never fails. Sure, they seem childish at times, but the bottom line is they will make you laugh. And Google gets in on the action as co-founder Sergey Brin actually makes a few cameo appearances in the movie.

There are numerous one-liners that will generate laughter as well as the sarcasm-filled rants that Vaughn is known for. There is the token inspirational speech from Vaughn, who will use Flashdance to motivate his young teammates. As Billy and Nick track down the elusive Charles Xavier, one of the movie's memorable scenes shows Vaughn being punched in the face and Wilson getting punched, well, below the belt, by a guy in a wheelchair. The Internship is not for young ones as there are several scenes containing adult humor, but the movie has enough laughs to make the two hours worth it.

Despicable Me 2 - Movie Review

If you loved it the first time around, the Despicable Me crew is back for a second go-around, and it will entertain like the first. The animated adventure-comedy will not disappoint as actors Steve Carell, Russell Brand, and Miranda Cosgrove reprise their roles. Kristen Wiig is also back albeit in a different role.

Summary

The ex-villain Gru (Carell) saved his three adopted daughters - Agnes, Edith, and Margo - from the evil organization, Vector, in the original film. Living the unexciting life of an everyday dad, Gru is paid a visit by agent Lucy Wilde, played by Wiig, who voiced Miss Hattie in the first version. Wilde recruits Gru to the Anti-Villain League headed up by one Silas Ramsbottom. The league is dedicated to fighting world-wide crime and informs Gru that a new villain, Eduardo (Benjamin Bratt), is on the loose wreaking havoc upon the world. The Anti-Villain League believes that Gru, once being a criminal, understands how Eduardo thinks and can help to defeat him. Once again, Gru, his girls, his minions, and his assistant Dr. Nefario will have to save the world.

Cast

Producer Chris Meledandri assembled a great cast with Carell, Wiig, Cosgrove, and Brand returning to the movie. Originally, Al Pacino was set to play the villain, Eduardo, but left the film due to creative differences. Bratt, of Law & Order and Miss Congeniality fame, was then cast in the role. British comedian Steve Coogan lends his voice to Silas Ramsbottom and Dana Gaier and Elsie Fisher are back as Edith and Agnes.

Review


Carell is great once again as Gru as he tries to become a good father to his three lovable young girls. Being recruited into the Anti-Villain League is an honor for Gru, but he must balance his role of crime-fighter with that of being a dad. The amount of humor in the film will have you laughing non-stop. Wiig is perfect for the role of Wilde playing the serious agent type with just a bit of a wild side. The soundtrack features songs by Eminem that will have you, and the rest of the audience, bouncing in your seat. And if that's not enough, Despicable Me 2 is worth seeing just for the minions. Yes, those lovable, yellow little creatures with their own language are at it again as Gru's helpers. If you have seen the original, this is one sequel that you will not want to pass up.

Ant-Man - Movie Review

Ant Man continues the Marvel Cinematic universe, set after the events of The Age of Ultron. It even ties back somewhat to Agent Carter Hailey Atwell and John Slattery appear as aged versions of Agent Carter and Howard Stark at the beginning of the movie as a set up to the rest of the plot. There are even tie ins to the next Captain America movie (with a post credits scene) and ultimately to the Avengers Infinity wars movies (which will include Ant Man).

Without giving too much away, Michael Douglas's character Hank Prym one of the original S.H.E. I. L.D. agents, and inventor of the ant man suit, a technology that allows humans to shrink to the size of an ant, and gain the equivalent of an ant's strength to its size hires burglar Scott Lang, played by Paul Rudd to break into his former company and steal a second suit being developed by Prym's one time protege now rival Darren Cross (played by House of Cards' Cory Stoll). Evangeline Lilly plays Hope van Dyne, Prym's daughter who reluctantly helps Lang train to become ant man.

At its core the film is a heist movie wrapped up in a superhero movie. It is like Oceans 11 meets The Avengers. It does very well as the origin story for the various stand alone characters, yet blends into the existing Marvel Universe, with the biggest cross-over being the meeting between Ant Man and Falcon about halfway into the movie. Paul Rudd does a great job with being a hero that is on the fringe of being a true good guy, who is willing to break the rules or the law to do the right thing. He also brings an air of every man with a smart ass quality that he is know for from his other work. It has a lot of the humor that many of Marvel Films have had in doses.

For those who get the actual disc, the movie looks and sounds great on blu ray. I have the one disc version, which for extras has a few short behind the scenes and making of features, about 10 min worth of "news" footage that help flesh out some of the character's backgrounds, some deleted scenes and a gag reel. Good for what is there. I think those who are fans of the Marvel Universe movies and TV shows will enjoy this. It is also different enough that if you are having super hero movie fatigue, you can find it enjoyable because it is definitely not like any of the ones that have come before it. While some of it is a bit silly to be sure (but really all the superhero movies are to some extent) this movie plays on that a bit and almost does it tongue in cheek. The acting is very good, it it does well staying on the fringes of the larger story, while telling its own.

The Wolverine - Movie Review

Fans of the X-Men series and the comic book hero, as well as many of their wives, will salivate over The Wolverine, the sixth installment within the mega-successful series. The movie features Hugh Jackman again as the main character as he battles with his immortality. Jackman gets a producer credit for the film, which is set in Japan.

Cast

After Jackman in the lead role of Logan/Wolverine, the cast is a Who's Who of Japanese actors and actresses. Tao Okamoto plays Mariko Yashida, who is the daughter of an important Yakuza crime boss. Mariko is pulled between her love and feelings for Logan and also her required duty to her father. Mariko's father, Shingen Yashida, is the number one antagonist to Jackman's Wolverine. Moviegoers may recognize Will Yun Lee, an American-born actor of Korean descent. Lee has played a recurring role on the new Hawaii Five-O series and recently served as Captain Cho in the remake of the 1980s classic Red Dawn.

Summary

The film is set some time after X-Men: The Last Stand, where Logan has traveled to Japan to escape. He realizes that everyone he has loved and cared about dies and, being immortal, he does not. Faced with so much pain, he retreats into his world while living in Japan. He is happy to get away from everything and everyone until a mysterious someone from his past tracks him down. Someone he has saved in the past finds Logan to give him exactly what he is looking for - mortality. Logan is hired to protect Mariko Yashida when she is threatened in a war between the Yakuza and local law enforcement. Logan/Wolverine will be pushed to his emotional and physical limits as he goes to battle the Yakuza.

Review

If you are an action movie seeker, you will find enough action in The Wolverine to tie you over for weeks. The sheer site of the shirtless Jackman will be all it takes to get the wives and girlfriends in the seats. Set in Japan, there are plenty of samurai swords and ninjas for the action lover. Throw in a bullet train ride and some nice explosions and The Wolverine proves its worthiness as an action film extraordinaire. But, the real story is Wolverine's battle with his own personal demons. He doesn't know how to deal with his own immortality. He has a tough time watching his loved ones die. But all that will change and Wolverine will come out of his ordeal stronger and more powerful than ever.

World War Z - Movie Review

Based on the novel of the same name, World War Z is an apocalyptic thriller that will leave you saying it's the best zombie movie you have ever seen. While the movie deviates from author Max Brooks' novel, its version is surprisingly good. With mega-star Brad Pitt in the lead role, it's hard to go wrong.

Cast

Pitt is the star of this film playing Gerry Lane a United Nations employee. When the world war starts, he will be thrust into action to try and find a way to stop the zombies from overtaking the world. Mireille Enos (HBO series and The Killing) plays Karen, Lane's wife and mother of their two daughters. Matthew Fox and Bryan Cranston, of the TV hit Breaking Bad, also star. Marc Forster, who did the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, directs.

Summary

Gerry Lane is a U.N. employee and family man who loves his wife and two daughters dearly. Living in New York City, Lane and his family learn that martial law has been declared. While traveling through the city, the Lane family begins to see why. Mayhem and chaos ensue as a zombie pandemic has begun. The zombies are toppling armies and governments all over the world and looking to bring an end to humanity. In a race against the clock, Lane must leave his family and travel the world to find a way to save the human race.

Review

If you are a fan of Brooks' novel, be prepared. The movie's adaptation is much different than what you have read. Don't worry, though. That's a good thing. While the actual making of the movie wound up taking a little longer than was first thought, the end result is a solid zombie movie. The action scenes are a non-stop adrenaline rush and will keep you waiting for what happens next. There is gripping emotion as well as Lane must leave his family and go off and fight the zombies.

You will find yourself pulling for Lane to make it just so he can get back to his wife and daughters. Fans may remember that the ending of the movie had to be redone and it's a doozy... and well worth it. Apparently, Forster has some plans for not just a sequel, but a trilogy along the likes of the Jason Bourne series or even Spiderman. If you like action and zombie, World War Z is well worth a look.

Beowulf - Movie Review

'Beowulf' (2007) is set in Denmark in the year 507 A.D. This epic old English poem and ancient tale of heroism and betrayal is brought entertainingly to life in this screen adaptation which is stunningly animated using computer generated graphics, sword and sandals fantasy adventure movie. A beguiling and thoroughly enjoyable film, with picturesque Icelandic vistas shot by Jan Kiesser and a timeless theme of religious conflict (Christianity versus Nordic paganism) and intolerance.

Originally made in 3D, to best show off the special effects, the movie is a must have DVD for your home cinema, especially the director's cut version, with special features about the technical creation of the movie, design and filming, which makes interesting viewing.

Anthony Hopkins plays elderly King Hrothgar, set in a time of demons and dragons, warriors and temptresses in this Viking land. King Hrothgar, to the disapproval of his Queen, Wealthow (Robin Wright Penn) celebrates his conquest of other lands and accumulated wealth with drunken cavorting revelry in his new mead hall, where the assembled warriors and wenches make merry with mead, singing and dancing.

However, in a dark cave not far away, lurks the huge, half-demon, half-human grotesque Grendel (Crispin Glover) who is fired into a rage at hearing all these sounds of revelry and launches a horrific violent attack on the mead hall and its' revelers, killing and maiming many of the brave warriors with his own flesh seemingly impervious to most weapons although sparing the Kings' life, because of past history between the two. After this blood-bath the beast returns to his cavern where his mother, a water demon (Angelina Jolie) comforts him.

The next day King Hrothgar makes it known publicly that he's willing to pay a handsome sum to rid his kingdom of Grendel. A hero steps forward proclaiming himself defender of the realm - Beowulf (Ray Winstone). Beowulf and his fellow Geats pledge to kill the monster in exchange for gold and a kingdom.

Though at first Grendel seems invincible, Beowulf eventually manages to defeat him in a desperate battle to the death. Devastated by her son's violent demise at the hands of Beowulf, Grendel's mother, a splendidly sexy naked water siren, sets out in search of revenge. Later, Beowulf faces the biggest challenge of his life when he attempts to slay a powerful dragon.

The movie is a spell-binder, a fully fledged cinematic assault on the senses, as if an old painting of Norse Gods had sprung to life and begun heaving spears, arrows complete with geysers of blood spurting in all directions and exceptional sound effects. A celebration of bold, carnivorous manhood married with up-to-date technical wizardry and punctuated with sly humour and a surprisingly sophisticated sting in its' tale.

Gladiator: Top Movie Review

Maximus Decimus Meridius, a powerful act by Russell Crowe, veteran of many top 10 movies, was a General in the army of ageing Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and had saved the Rome from many barbarous attacks. Emperor Marcus on his death bed wishes that an appointed Senate should rule the empire and till that time Maximus should keep the reigns of the empire in his hands. Commodus, enacted on screen by Joaquin Phoenix, star of many top rated movies, Marcus's son kills his father on learning this and on assuming charge of the empire orders that Maximus and his family be executed. Maximus is betrayed by his friend Quintus and is arrested but somehow escapes only to find that he got late in saving his wife and son. An unconscious Maximus is taken by slave traders to Zucchabar, in North Africa, where Proximo, a slave trader buys him and makes him a gladiator. There he befriends two gladiators, Juba, well portrayed by Djimon Hounsou, star of many top movies, from Numidia and Hagen from Germania. Juba is a gentle soul and assures Maximus that he shall meet his family after death.

Maximus grows in stature as a gladiator and he is invited for fights at the Colosseum in the city of Rome where he again confronts Commodus. He opens the event by skillfully leading his men and defeating the opponent. Commodus wants him to be killed upon knowing his true identity but is advised against it looking at his immense popularity with the crowds. Commodus orders him to fight Tigris of Gaul the undefeated champion gladiator of Rome. Maximus defeats Tigris but spares his life. After the fights Maximus learns from Cicero, his once faithful servant, that the soldiers who were led by Maximus in battles were still loyal to him. Maximus plans to overthrow Commodus and form a senate to rule the empire, for which he gets the support of Commodus's sister Lucilla, well played by Connie Nielsen, the charming face of many top rated movies. But Commodus suspecting his sister threatens to kill her son and gets to know of Maximus's plan. Finding no other way to stop Maximus from being a hero in the eyes of the people, he challenges him to a fight unto death in the Colosseum.

Before entering the arena, Commodus meets Maximus and stabs him with a hidden stiletto. In the ensuing fight both the warriors are highly wounded and Commodus loses his sword. Attempting to kill Maximus with the stiletto he is slain by Maximus with the same stiletto. Before dying Commodus honors his father's last wishes and orders that a senate be formed to rule the empire and slavery be abolished. Maximus dies in Lucilla's arms and re-unites with his dead wife and son.


Ridley Scott, director of many top 10 movies, the master story teller and director of par excellence historical films, performs another magic on the screen, extracting excellent performances from his actors like a juicer extracting juice from the fruits. The sweetness of his films comes from this quality of his, not that he doesn't have other cinematic qualities. He knows how to narrate a story on screen - he knows how to keep his viewers glued to their seats and savor every drop of the blissful elixir of enjoyment he serves them with the finesse worthy of him.

Memoirs of a Geisha - a movie

Last night I went with my wife and friends to see Memoirs of a Geisha, or "Sayuri" in Japan. Before I saw it I had read several reviews, all having very qualified statements. I can conclude that anyone who has read anything about this movie should see it before they comment.

I have heard two strains of criticisms about this movie. First, many are upset that the leading female roles are played by Ziyi Zyang, Michelle Yeoh, and Li Gong - Chinese, Malaysian, and Chinese respectively. Second, I have heard various criticisms of the accuracy of the dress, or other aspects of the Geisha world.

Immediately, this made me think of another historically based fiction movie: Cold Mountain. Based on the book of the same name, this movie tells the story of a civil war soldier who returns to his hometown to find his love. The lead characters in this movie were Jude Law (an Englishman), Nicole Kidman (an Australian), was filmed in Romania, and included dozens of Romanian soldiers instead of American Civil War Reenactors (as was done in most recent Civil War based productions in the US such as Gettysburg or Gods and Generals). Just like Memoirs of a Geisha (a.k.a. Sayuri) it brought protests, but is entertaining none-the-less.

Just as you don't watch Saving Private Ryan or Pearl Harbor as a substitute for studying World War Two, you shouldn't rely on Sayuri to learn about Japanese culture. Yes, there were mistakes - just as I found the dance in the middle of the movie to be very Chinese. I do think though that this movie very well may set the record straight that Geisha are not prostitutes, as I had thought before I came to Japan and learned more about the culture myself.

What is important to remember that both Sayuri and Cold Mountain are movies based on works of fiction, giving us a double dose of poetic license. Both have strong stories and beautiful scenery, and cannot substitute as a cultural or historical documentary. It is a movie. Moreover, it is an entertaining movie I think is worth seeing, only if you don't take yourself too seriously and remember that it is just that - a movie.

What are they waiting for?

Today my wife and I went to a nicer suburb of Tokyo to see a new movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It was an entertaining movie, and we both enjoyed ourselves.

However, just watching a movie in Japan one becomes aware of small cultural differences. Movie theaters in Japan are very nice and modern. Unlike the US, they are usually on several floors connected by escalators, but are otherwise very similar. Of course there is popcorn and arm rest cup holders. However, there is also beer in the concession stand and a girl selling ice cream and chocolate covered almonds in the aisles before the movie starts.

However, what has always surprised me at Japanese theaters is at the end. While in America everyone makes a rush for the exits (and the closest toilet) as soon as the movie is over, in Japan the lights stay dark and everyone patiently and politely sits through all of the credits. I understand this in comedies where you can sometimes see extra footage of the funniest parts. However, no matter how funny the movie is (or not) everyone waits in their seats. The best part though is this: after sitting through all 200 or so names for assistant assistant makeup case holders... it dawned on me. These Japanese movie goers were watching thousands of names and titles go by, and 95% of them couldn't understand a word! Some things I will never understand - it is just the way it is.