Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

 5/10

Starring
Aaron Eckhart
Michelle Rodriguez
Will Rothhaar
Ramón Rodríguez
Bridget Moynahan
Ne-Yo
James Hiroyuki Liao
Michael Peña

Directed by Jonathan Liebesman

It’s a whole complete movie with a lot of noise, violence and wasted film. The initial focus on the introduction of the characters is tying, if you miss the 1st 20 mins, don’t worry you haven’t missed any thing reasonable. After that the lack of originality is seen, poor implementation of ideas, and Ne-yo cant act. So what you're watching for like two hours is, “aliens land on earth and start to kill humans to control our resources.” Does that sound familiar?

The good thing about this movie is the CGI.

What else...? I think that's about it. Action movies about aliens evading earth is old and over used.

Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) is assigned to a platoon, during an alien invasion on all the major cities in the world. The platoon was sent to a police station in Los Angeles to rescue a group of trapped survivors within 3 hours, because the whole Los Angeles will be flattened by bombs to cripple the alien invasion.

So what happens next is, noise and lots more noise and people running around in a Saving Private Ryan like way.

Directed by Johnathan Liebesman, who thought story depth is a bad idea, as we are introduced to the characters that can’t pass for marines in the dark. The whimpy cheesy dialogues and then NOISE, space suits, and flying space ships. All this are a product of Christopher Bertolini the script writer, he made me wonder if I was watching a B-movie that was done with a crazy high budget.

The South African director who, directed the 2006 remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and 2012 Wrath of the Titans will be working on the Ninja Turtles in 2014  (that's what i heard if he is not bumped off latter).

The movie did have its own controversy with Sony Pictures Entertainment investigating the possibility of legal action against the filmmakers Greg and Colin Strause, who were hired to do visual effect work on Battle: Los Angeles through their company Hydraulx. Sony Pictures suspected the Strause brothers had created their own Los Angeles-based alien invasion film Skyline, but the later dropped the case.

Aaron who was exceptional in the Dark Knight with Christian Bale and Ledger was more of a letdown in this movie, and Michelle Rodriguez was as usual frowning and being a bad ass although.

Verdict: Other than the above statements, the movie is just a combination of Black Hawk Down and Saving Private Ryan, so i advice you go see the two movies instead.

Hall Pass (2011)

Hall Pass

4/10

Starring
Owen Wilson
Jason Sudeikis
Stephen Merchant
Jenna Fischer
Christina Applegate

Directed by The Farrelly brothers

What can I say? I have seen better movies done by both Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live) so i wonder why they choose to be here.

A movie that depicts adultery as something worth thinking about is not worth talking about.

Hall pass did have its fun times and laughs, but this movie is not only degrading to women, but The Farrelly brothers expect their audience to find fun in an issue that has resulted in broken marriages and homes.

The brothers tried so hard to make the characters likeable but it just doesn't rub off. They purchased the script for this film by dishing out a whooping six figure pay to Pete Jones in September 2005.

The thought on my mind while watching this movie is, who gives a spouse a hall pass?

Now i know men can be desperate to get laid, but these guys made Men look like dogs.

The movie script depicts two wives (Jenna Fischer and Christina Applegate) who were tired of seeing their husbands (Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis) lust after everything in skirt that passes by. They then decide to leave them for a week, telling them to go screw any willing woman they desire, and get it out of their system, here is where the movie name comes in, they were giving a hall pass to commit adultery.

The guys went crazy with joy but soon realised that once you are out of the game it is not easy getting back in.

As some days went by that the men just stayed in as the day before they had stressed themselves out trying to get laid.

The Farrelly brothers who were also responsible for Something About Mary (Ben Stiller) and also Shallow Hal (Jack Black), made this movie and although the movie did have its comic moments, the script itself lacked life and dedication and too many nauseating actions.

I have seen Owen Wilson in better roles, but i guess actors must have one of those days. Acting in general in the movie was on point, and the screen play good, it is just the idea that just didn't sell.

This is the third time that Jason Sudeikis and Christina Applegate had a starring role with each other; the first being The Rocker and the second being Going the Distance.

This is not one Owen Wilson movie to run to the cinema to go see.

The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

The Adjustment Bureau

7/10

Staring
Matt Damon
Emily Blunt

Directed by George Nolfi

The first cool romance this year, gives you a rush as we see Matt Damon (Bourne Series), take on men that appear to be angels.

The movie first strikes you as the same old boy meets girl love at first sight movie, then things change to a Sci-Fi like but Romantic/Religious movie that depicts the extent a man will go for what he loves.

Now i know the Chicks will love the Romance in the movie, but the mind bugging games are for the guys, the tricks and turns that made Inception such fun can be found while watching this flick.

Adapted from a short play by Philip K. Dick short titled "Adjustment Team". Norris was changed from a real estate salesman, as in the short story, to an up-and-coming politician and the movie’s ending is different from the original.

Now the question here is this, is free will, really free, when i can't really get the thing i want that is staring right at my face?

Director George Nolfi made an impressive debut (he was also a screenwriter in one of the “Bourne” movies) as this was his first feature movie.

The movie picks up immediately and we start to see a story dept that could rollover anywhere.

David Norris (Matt Damon) is a politician running for senate. He runs into Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) in the men’s room. They had a conversation which inspired him to give the best speech of his life that gets him the fame he desires.

Now after this meeting we meet some men in Black suits and Hats, pulling all sorts of strings to make sure this two never meet again.

One of these men is Anthony Mackie of “The Hurt Locker”, whose role was to act as the sensitive one who feels Damon’s pain and cuts him some slack.

The movie is both intriguing and captivating as we solve together why Damon can't be with the woman he loves and see how he will try to out run men who can be anywhere at the turn of a door knob.

This movie is a must watch, it challenges both the mind and spirit, and you will enjoy the chase of the movie.

The whole setting is great and it has a religious undertone, where Chairman represents God, while his caseworkers are like angels.

I still feel the makers could have done more, but what the heck go watch this movie.

Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son (2011)

Big Mommas: Like Father Like Son

2/10

Starring
Martin Lawrence
Brandon T. Jackson

Directed By: John Whitesell



This is the second sequel, to the Big Mommas House franchise

I have a question: What is worse than a guy dressed in old women clothes to pass as a woman?
Answer: Two guys in women clothes trying to pass as women.

This movie gives rotten a new meaning. Like a lot of Martin Lawrence films, it lacked reason for anything; the whole point of the movie is lost in them trying to make you laugh, which they don't achieve.

The movie was unfunny and it was plagued with many unnecessary scenes that if you cut them out the movie will be just 10 minutes long.

When a movie has a man who results into dressing like a woman, each time he has to resolve an issue, then you know something is wrong, it could sell the first time, but it won’t pass again.

Imagine having to watch Martin Sing and dance in a suit that looks unreal that i was left wondering if the director had his glasses on.

The movie starts with Malcolm Turner (Martin Lawrence) chasing down a postman, so as to retrieve a mail for his teenage stepson Trent Pierce (Brandon T. Jackson) who just graduated from high school.

He gets the mail and Trent has been accepted into Duke University. He goes looking for Trent who was rapping in a park. Malcolm disrupts his performance and tells him the news on their way home, but Trent passes on going to college so as to pursue a music career as a rapper named "Prodi-G".

With his mother Sherry away on vacation with Malcolm and Sherry's baby (born from the second movie) Malcolm has to find a away to deal with Trent while trying to pass as a woman in an all girl school.

Martin is an actor that has refused to develop. The movie gets sadder as the minutes roll by then Faizon Love comes in and outclasses everyone. In the whole movie, he was the only person in the movie that actually acted while the others ran around.

The director John Whitesell who actually did the previous Big Momma 2which was also a waste, and not to forget Malibu's Most wanted, his other movie Deck the Hall with DeVito and Matthew Broderick holds a 6% approval in Rotten tomatoe while this movie had a 5% approval rating.

This won’t make it easy to watch John’s next film Killer Klowns from Outer Space.