Last Vegas (2013)

Last Vegas (2013)

6/10

Starring

Michael Douglas

Robert De Niro

Morgan Freeman

Kevin Kline

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

Last Vegas is just The Hangover (2009) for oldies. It’s an exact replica of The Hangover (2009), the only difference being that this time, the Wolf Pack is called the Asshole Pack, and it’s a bunch of old guys in their 60s (or 70s) trying to live life as if they’re still in their 30s.

The movie has this weird "sacrifice by giving up the girl" thing that felt just off. The real standout here is the cast—it’s out of this world. We have Michael Douglas leading the pack, followed by Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Kevin Kline. All four of them put out their best acting, making sure you enjoy every scene.
And when it comes to life in Vegas, these guys just didn’t fit in—and they didn’t even try. That’s what I liked about the movie. Their attempts to be hip were funny. The comedy was well-placed and cool, but the beef between Douglas’s character, Billy, and De Niro’s Paddy was really stupid. It didn’t flow well with the movie, and at one point, when the issue was brought up, I wished I could skip forward.

The movie had a lot of funny moments, though some might rub you the wrong way if you’re nearing 50. But if you’re younger, you probably won’t mind the sex jokes and the "free pass" reference. One thing you’ll enjoy is how these guys were completely out of touch with new-age tech.

The movie is about four best friends who’ve managed to stay close for over 58 years. One of them, Billy (Michael Douglas), is still a bachelor and finally decides to get married to a woman half his age. He calls up his old friends for a bachelor party in Vegas. They all show up and decide to have one day where they get to feel young again.
That’s what the movie is all about—their time in Vegas.

On their way to Vegas, Sam (Kevin Kline) is given a "free pass" by his wife. Archie (Morgan Freeman) has to get away from his overprotective son by lying that he’s gone on a church retreat. And Paddy (Robert De Niro) has to be convinced to get over his grief about his dead wife and come along.

I enjoyed the time I spent watching this movie, and I think you would too, you only have to put in some effort not to think too much about the script.

Enter The Dragon (1973)

Enter The Dragon (1973)

6/10

Starring

Bruce Lee

John Saxon

Ahna Capri

Robert Wall

Directed by Robert Clouse

Enter the Dragon to me is a classic Kung Fu movie with all the fun attached. The comedy is well done, and the screenplay is good enough for you to enjoy. The fight scenes, though, weren’t as good as the ones I saw in Bruce Lee’s other film, Fist of Fury (1972), which was released a year earlier.

Regardless, the movie is a classic, mostly because it starred Kung Fu master Bruce Lee. Other than just being a straightforward "bunch of guys meet up for a tournament" movie, it had its side stories, which were well-crafted into the film so that they didn’t sidetrack you from what was happening on screen. There’s also a brief use of the nunchaku, Bruce Lee’s favorite weapon of choice.

Then there were the other characters in the movie that added to the fun. There was the macho tough guy Williams (Jim Kelly) and his comic friend Roper (John Saxon), who always seemed to be in some financial trouble.

Enter the Dragon was the first Chinese martial arts film to have been produced by a major Hollywood studio—Warner Bros. It’s epic for its fight scenes and its story. In the movie, Jackie Chan, who is now our modern-day Bruce Lee, played a henchman who got himself killed by Bruce Lee. The movie soften the death scenes, as we get to see the men fall but don’t get to see them actually die, it cuts away quickly.

The movie revolves around three martial artists. Lee (Bruce Lee) is recruited by an agency to investigate the tournament hosted by Han, who is believed to be dealing in opium. Roper and Williams are former army buddies. Roper is on the run from the Mafia due to his gambling debts, while Williams got away by beating up racist police officers and shows up at the tournament.

As far as acting goes, it was well done. Bruce kept his "I cannot be stained" look, and everyone else lived up to the characters they were portraying—except for Jim Kelly’s character. I felt he was a little too fake in his macho look to convince anyone.

If I’m to make a list of my top martial arts films, this one would come in fourth. Below is my list:

1. The Legend of Drunken Master (1994)
2. Five Deadly Venoms (1978)
3. Fist of Fury (1972)
4. Enter the Dragon (1973)

Regardless, they’re all classics and should be seen—even this movie. The side story, which in a way has a lot to do with the tournament, is one to enjoy.

Before Midnight (2013)

Before Midnight (2013)

6/10

Starring

Ethan Hawke

Julie Delpy

Directed by Richard Linklater

Before Midnight is the third installment in Richard Linklater’s romantic drama series, all starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.
Since the beginning of this romantic journey in Before Sunrise (1995), we’ve been taken through the lives of two strangers who met, took a risk, fell in love, parted ways for some years, met again, and started a life together. Before Midnight picks up nine years after the life they began together in Before Sunset (2004). The movie played on the idea that love isn’t perfect.

The runaway thrill of this romantic drama series is the screenplay. It’s not always fun watching two people talk on and on about love, life, and their emotions—things we all discuss when we gather as friends. This movie has that in loads, and at times it felt more like they were dragging the scenes to just make up the needed time for the movie. As some conversations were repetitive, in my view.

The movie’s plot isn’t all that long to describe, the movie lacks any form of complexity. It is set nine years after the conclusion of Before Sunset, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) are now a couple and parents to twin girls. The girls are the result of Jesse and Céline reconnecting in Before Sunset.
This present situation has its challenges, as Jesse is struggling to maintain a healthy relationship with his son, who lives in America with Jesse’s ex-wife, while Jesse is now living in Paris, France, with Céline and the twins.

While spending time with friends discussing love and life, their friends arrange a night at a hotel for the couple so they can have some quality time together. What was meant to be a romantic getaway ends up turning into a heated argument about their present situation and the future of their relationship.

In my opinion, one actor who seems to have withered with time is Ethan Hawke. I remember the first time I saw him in Dead Poets Society (1989) with Robin Williams—he looked so good and full of promise. But as time went on, he seems to have aged noticeably, which isn’t a term typically used to describe a person, but that’s how he appeared to me.

Julie Delpy, on the other hand, has turned into a fine actress over time, delivering her lines and emotions in a way that keeps you, the viewer, thrilled.
In conclusion, this movie isn’t one to watch if you’re hoping to be swept away by love scenes and complex plots. It’s a nice, sit-down drama—one I think everyone would enjoy.

Before Sunrise (1995)

Before Sunrise (1995)

6/10

Starring

Ethan Hawke

Julie Delpy

Directed by Richard Linklater

When you watch Before Sunrise, what you might expect is a thrill ride of a couple running away together. Well, what you actually get is a thrill ride of a couple spending time discussing life and what it has to offer. The movie has some really long conversations that, while thought-provoking, might not hold everyone’s attention.

I really liked this movie—not just because it’s a drama, which is a genre I tend to enjoy, but because, unlike most movies, it didn’t rely on fast-paced events or side action scenes to keep the viewer watching. The screenplay was good enough on its own, and you’ll love the way the characters develop on screen, going from strangers on a train to friends and then lovers.

Unlike the sequels, Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013), this movie was written by Richard Linklater and Kim Krizan. In the next two films, Linklater, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy co-wrote the screenplay together.
The movie serves as a delicious introduction to a follow-up trilogy, as two people try to discover themselves and come to understand each other while discussing life, love, religion, and emotions.

Everything kicked off when both decided to take a chance. I liked the fact that they didn’t make the movie a love-at-first-sight thing, like something you’d see in a Disney movie. It was straightforward—strangers meeting up and hooking up.

The plot is about Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meeting Céline (Julie Delpy) on a train from Budapest and striking up a conversation with her. The conversation started because both witnessed a couple arguing in German. Jesse tried to find out what they were arguing about by asking Céline, who had no clue, and from there, they kept talking until the credits rolled.
Jesse was on his way to Vienna to catch a flight back to the U.S. and asked Céline to join him for lunch (Céline was returning to university in Paris after visiting her grandmother). While having lunch, they talked some more and soon developed a fondness for each other.
When they reached Vienna, Jesse convinced Céline to disembark with him so they could explore their newfound friendship instead of spending the rest of their lives wondering what could have happened. Céline agreed.
Jesse, however, had to catch a flight early in the morning and didn’t have much money on him for them to stay at a hotel overnight. So, they decided to roam around Vienna until morning came and they had to part ways.

I can see how someone may not like this movie because of the lack of significant plot progression as the story mainly relies on the chemistry between the leads, which, while strong, can sometimes leave the film feeling uneventful.

Nice movie—go buy it.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

7/10

Starring

Ian McKellen

Martin Freeman

Richard Armitage

Benedict Cumberbatch

Directed by Peter Jackson

Well then, to be honest, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) felt like a waste to me. It was only interesting based on the idea that something was about to happen—an idea I have to give Peter Jackson credit for, because he rode the movie for almost three hours on that idea alone. He filled the screen with singing, long walks, forgettable scenes, needless conversations, and elongated fight scenes, all screaming something good is coming in the follow-up movie.
The drag in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey seemed like a useless tactic to make the film longer. Now, The Desolation of Smaug is a little different. Although it’s also purposely elongated to fit a three-hour runtime, with extended scenes that feel drawn out and unnecessary. But Peter Jackson decided to add appendices from Tolkien’s The Return of the King. This made the movie more fun to watch, as many things tied to the events in The Lord of the Rings trilogy made sense.

I liked this movie better than the first and you will too, and I think it’s a good one for everyone to see. I delayed watching it because I didn’t like the first one—mostly because I couldn’t understand why someone would turn one book into a trilogy and fill the first part with wasted screen time. This time, Jackson decided to add more substance to the film.

I’m sure you’re tired of the buildup to this review, so here it goes. The plot follows our beloved Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), continuing his quest with thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch). Meanwhile, the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) investigates a growing evil at Dol Guldur.
What I still don’t understand about these events in Middle-earth is why Gandalf always has a reason to go away and investigate something, leaving this poor, helpless group he’s united to solve a problem that he could’ve been useful in solving if he’d just stayed put.

But, you know, he can’t be in two places at once, so he has to go resolve or call for help elsewhere.

The movie is all that and a bag of chips—well done, Peter Jackson. Wonderful acting from the cast, and you will love Cumberbatch voice acting as Smaug. I have to add, I found Gandalf’s frequent absences doesn’t add much to the plot’s progression, even though Jackson is trying to make the movie play like the book. Also, Despite being more engaging than the first film, it still feels like a bridge to future installments rather than a fully satisfying entry on its own.

Now that he’s done with The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, I hope he creates something just as creatively interesting in future movies. I’m definitely looking forward to the last installment of this trilogy.

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967)

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967)

6/10

Starring

Spencer Tracy

Sidney Poitier

Katharine Hepburn

Katharine Houghton

Directed by Stanley Kramer

I think I enjoyed Guess Who (2005), starring Ashton Kutcher and the late Bernie Mac. However, in Guess Who, the racial roles are reversed. Guess Who is loosely based on this movie, but it’s done in a comedic tone rather than the dramatic tone of the Poitier version.

This is a great movie in its own right, one that I think many should see. Hepburn’s acting is masterful and touching.

The movie is about an interracial couple, Dr. John Wade Prentice (Sidney Poitier, Black) and Joanna “Joey” Drayton (Katharine Houghton, White). At that time, interracial marriage was more of a taboo, and Joanna’s family was really worried for their daughter and her future. John’s parents were also worried about the future their child and possible grandchildren would have by their son marrying a white girl. The whole movie revolves around both families trying to resolve their differences.

A funny thing that happened during filming was Sidney Poitier becoming a bit tongue-tied when he had to be in the presence of both Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The starstruck effect of their presence got to him, as he was standing in front of people he considered giants in the acting world.

The film is notable for being the ninth and final on-screen pairing of Tracy and Hepburn (at the time, they were live-in partners, with Tracy never divorcing his first wife), Spencer Tracy died 17 days after filming was completed.

Hepburn is said to have never seen the completed film, saying the memories of Tracy were too painful.

Well, this is the first Spencer Tracy film I got to see, so I may not be the best judge of how great his acting was compared to his other roles. But as mentioned earlier, Katharine Hepburn was in a class of her own throughout the movie. At times, I wondered if she was crying because of what was happening in the story or because of the fact that her lover was dying.

The movie was a commercial and critical success, winning two Academy Awards for Best Actress (Katharine Hepburn) and Best Writing (Original Screenplay).

Sidney Poitier’s acting in this movie isn’t as grand as what I saw him deliver in, In the Heat of the Night (1967), and for me, the movie focused too much on interracial marriage while sidestepping the harsher realities of racism at the time. Given the issue it was addressing, I felt the conflict was too neatly resolved, without much real tension or depth in the characters’ struggles. The pacing also drags in parts, with some long-winded dialogues that feel more like speeches than natural conversations.

In the end, I enjoyed the movie, and I think you will too.

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

6/10

Starring

Taye Diggs

Terrance Howard

Morris Chestnut

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee

The Best Man Holiday was very funny—I really laughed hard while watching this movie. There were just some scenes and lines that caught me off guard. And the way the movie ended felt like Malcolm D. Lee was leaving room in case another movie about these four best friends and the women in their lives should be written. There’s a place they could pick it up from.

To add to this, I think the plot was really bad. The comedy worked for me and I laughed hard, but the main storyline was like something off a soap opera.

The movie is set during Christmas time and is a comedy-drama, directed and written by Malcolm D. Lee, who also directed and wrote The Best Man (1999). This serves as a sequel to that movie. In this holiday get-together, we get to see how their lives have turned out after the weird events of Lance and Mia’s wedding in the first movie.

The producers went all out to get Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Melissa De Sousa, and Regina Hall all to come back, reprising their roles from the 1999 film.

The whole crew came together, acknowledging Mia’s invitation for a get-together, but not all the wounds had healed over their time apart. Lance still held a grudge against Harper for sleeping with his wife (although this happened long before they got married in the first film). Julian married the stripper Candace, whom he fell in love with in the first movie. Harper and Robin are expecting their first child, and Quentin is still single but a lot weirder than he was in the first movie.

The movie’s tragic tone at the end had some light shed on it with a birth—something I kind of liked, even though it’s not new. I know I’ve seen it in a movie somewhere.

The movie went on to be a commercial hit, and because of that, I heard that Universal Pictures and Malcolm D. Lee are in talks for a third installment. I think they should quit while they’re ahead.

Should you see this movie? Well, maybe, it’s funny, but the emotional line it tried pulling did not work for me. The plot isn’t airtight, though, and the screenplay was at times just dull or irritating. Imagine, someone thought it was a good idea to add some singing into the movie. I felt all the singing parts were just crap and unnecessary.