May 4, 2009

• The Summer of Daniel

  Summer has begun…at least in movie-land.

  I’m going to see Star Trek on Thursday night AND I CAN’T WAIT!
  But for those of you that say I only give positive movie reviews, I’m posting about a few movies I’ve seen lately but haven’t reviewed because…well…you know…they’re nothin’ to write home about.

  
  I LOVE YOU MAN
  If you’re familiar with any of the comedies that have been coming out in the past few years in this style (40 Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) this movie is similar except without the nudity. The content is raunchy and full of sex stuff, and not good to fill your mind with. That said, Paul Rudd’s performance as an extremely awkward guy that is too nice to have “guy friends” is pure hilariousness. There are some funny catch phrases and situations that arise in the film–and Paul clearly shows his prowess as a leading man.

  GRAN TORINO/CHANGELING
  I hadn’t seen any movies directed by Clint Eastwood until this year (oh-except Million-Dollar Baby). Both movies were clearly well made–and Clint has a style about his directing that is unique, FOR SURE. The movies were somewhat interesting, but also slow. That said, no plot point seemed unwarranted or poorly set up–it was ALL good. I’m telling you…WELL CRAFTED. But just because something is well crafted doesn’t mean it’s good or not boring. I’m not sure how I feel about either of these movies, really. I enjoyed Gran Torino’s redemption story, and Changeling had a nice twist at the end, I suppose…but they are not Daniel’s typical feel-good movie. There is meat to these films…meat that some might find delicious, but must be an acquired taste.
  Side note: Clint composes the music to both of these films, which is sparse and minimalistic. He’s not a great composer. I didn’t like it. Sorry, Clint. But hey, I guess when you’ve been in the industry for 50 years as and have the respectability that he has, you can pretty much do whatever you want.

  17 AGAIN
  Best part of this movie was definitely the best friend of the main character, Ned. Ned is an uber-geek, complete with a house full of toys, video games, cardboard cut-outs of all kinds of Star Wars characters complete with those expensive Lightsabers…total awesomeness and the ultimate Nerd Nirvana…I loved him and the relationship with The Office’s Jan…
  Zac Efron did a nice job, and it was fun to see Matthew Perry again…but without Ned, the movie would have been a total dud.
  There was a good message to it about family, and would be nice to see on DVD…totally rentable.

  X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE
  Loved it. But not as much as I’m going to love Star Trek. I JUST KNOW IT.
  Hugh Jackman rocked in this movie. Special effects were dyn-o-mite! And it has everything a summer tentpole movie needs…good plot, good actors, big budget effects…it is a definite must see in the theatres!

  Looking forward to:

  STAR TREK (May 8)
  Terminator Salvation (May 22)
  Night at the Museum 2 (May 22)
  Up (May 29)
  Land of the Lost (June 5)
  The Proposal (June 19)
  Transformers 2 (June 24)
  Harry Potter (July 17)
  GI Joe (Aug 7)

  • 11:56 am
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