Posts: 4

1. 

   Big Screen: Iron Man

   03.May.08, 12:50 EDT
   
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   I've never really been into comics but I've always been fascinated by comic characters. That’s why I like comic movie adaptations; I can get the main jist of a comic without having to read it (I’m lazy). This is also good because I don't usually carry the emotional baggage of life-long expactations to the theater that many comic book fans do. One of the super heroes that never interested me in the slightest was Iron Man, probably because he looks like the original Mighty Morphin Power Ranger. It probably also had to do with the fact that I’ve never heard any of my comic-loving friends ever mention him. So I was surprised when all the hype started to surround the new Jon Favreau film.
   
   
   
   Here’s the official synopsis of the film: When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.
   
   There have been so many bad and mediocre comic book adaptations out lately, that it’s hard to expect much. I went on opening night this weekend and was pleasantly surprised at how entertaining and exciting the film was. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a superhero movie this much (maybe Spiderman 2 or Batman Begins?). What was nice is that it took itself seriously enough without being a complete downer or bore like some end up doing (Anyone see The Hulk or Daredevil?), the film balances out the darkness with some really fun scenes (helped by a hard rock score).
   
   
   
   One of the smartest moves was bringing Robert Downey Jr. onto the film, whose acting chops really carry the film. He’s a lovably smarmy jackass, not too clean (Superman) and not too grumpy (Hulk). His supporting cast (Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard) is good, but they aren’t given much, just enough to, well……. Support.
   
   
   
   The story is genuinely intriguing, maybe one of the most unique origin stories I’ve seen in a while. Some of the best parts of the movie are when Stark (Robert Downy Jr.) is a P.O.W. in Afghanistan where he begins creating his super-suite. The action is great, top notch. There are basically three action sequences in the film, two in Afghanistan and the final fight against the main villain, Iron Monger. I personally enjoyed the style of the first two fight scenes over the finale, which didn’t do much for me. It might have been too fantastic, so I wasn’t as attached. Also, the first fight scenes are more fun, while the last was much darker. That being said, it was still great.
   
   One of the things the filmmakers did right was deciding to hardly ever have him talk while in his costume. This keeps him from having to pantomime his expressions in the style of a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger, the way the Green Goblin did in Spider Man. The mystery of his character in the suit is therefore retained.
   
   
   
   While the movie was a blast, when all was said and done I wished we could have seen the suite in action a little more than we did. I guess we’ll just have to wait for the sequel. Speaking of which, make sure you sit through the end credits, because you will not want to miss the tag at the end of this film.
   
   I highly suggest checking out this great action flick that is really kicking summer off to a good start.
   
   Ryan's Rating: A-
   
   Links:
   Watch Trailer
   IMDB
   Iron Man Comic Wikipedia
   

2. 

   DVD: The King Of Kong: A Fist Full Of Quarters

   21.Apr.08, 08:57 EDT
   
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   Even more silly than making a documentary about people dressing up as superheroes, is a documentary about people obsessed with breaking the world record on the 1980's arcade game, Donkey Kong.
   
   
   King Of Kong follows the misadventures Steve Wiebe, a small town family man, who bought a Donkey Kong arcade game to put in his garage. As he gets better and better, he realizes he might just break the world record set by Billy Mitchell in 1982. He starts video taping his games to capture his record-breaking game, and eventually does. He sends the tape in to be reviewed, and this is where the journey begins….
   
   
   Nothing can prepare Steve for the odd, and twisted world of Donkey Kong competitors, he’s an unwelcome newcomer in an almost mafia-style universe lead by referee, Walter Day and former champion and hot sauce baron, Billy Mitchell. Along the way, Walter, Billy (who, by the way, also set the world’s record for Biggest Douche Bag) and their goons do whatever they can to undermine Steve’s accomplishments. It’s so astonishing to watch how seriously these people take this stupid game, and you can’t help but find yourself emotionally wrapped up in the adventure, no matter how absurd it gets.
   
   
   ]The movie is so silly, so ridiculous, and so fun. You can’t imagine how high the stakes will be (or seem) until you see the movie. As I watched, I thought to myself, you can’t make this stuff up! And if you did it wouldn’t be half as interesting. So get some friends and some beer together, and prepare for one of the most exciting sports movies since Rocky.
   
   Favorite Quote: "No matter what I say, it draws controversy. It's sort of like the abortion issue." –Billy Mitchell
   
   Ryan’s Rating: A-
   
   Links
   Trailer
   Netflix
   Amazon

3. 

   DVD: Confessions Of A Superhero

   20.Apr.08, 17:17 EDT
   
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   One of the coolest surprises this year for me was watching the hilariously melancholy and quirky documentary, Confessions Of A Superhero. As a fan of Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man, I’m so happy to see something new that is as entertaining and engaging as that film is.
   
   
   
   Anyone who's been in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood is familiar with the various "superheros" and "movie stars" that hang out in front. As a tourist you decide to get your picture taken with them, and afterwords they ask you to pay for the photo. So essentially they are panhandlers.
   
   
   
   Someone eventually had to wonder who these people were, and why they have gotten into this profession. That somebody was Mathew Ogens, and he had the brilliant idea to follow these characters around for a while, and see who they were behind the costume. The film takes a very personal look at the lives of four particular characters; Christopher Dennis (Super Man), Maxwell Allen (Batman), Jennifer Gerht (Wonder Woman), and Joseph McQueen (The Hulk).
   
   
   
   Each person’s story is so unique, so odd, and so compelling, that you are immediately engaged, and the deeper the movie gets, the more emotionally involved you get into each person’s lives. Each person’s life is on a path, some going in a good direction, some not so much.
   
   
   
   The main character of the story is Christopher Dennis, a scrawny Christopher Reeves look-alike. Like many of the other street performers, he seems to connect with the character he portrays very deeply, and that seems to reflect the life he leads and the way he lives it. You can see him doing his very best to live by the moral compass that Superman himself lives by, and it’s great to watch. That’s not to say he doesn’t have issues, he may be the oddest of the bunch, but I’ll let you see for yourself.
   
   As you begin the movie, it’s hard to imagine how they are going to dedicate a feature length amount of time to these people, but by the time it’s over, you don’t want it to end.
   
   
   
   I give this movie my most enthusiastic thumbs up, I cannot think of another movie this year that’s come out that I have been more excited about, and I REALLY hope you’ll take the time to check it out.
   
   Ryan's Rating: A
   
   Links
   Netflix
   Amazon
   Official Site
   

4. 

   Big Screen: Forgetting Sarah Marshall

   20.Apr.08, 15:02 EDT
   
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   This weekend Bre and I went and saw the new Judd Apatow produced semi-gross, semi-sweet romantic comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The movie stars Jason Segel (who I loved in the little Freaks & Geeks that I saw), Kristen Bell (who I love in everything she's in), and Mila Kunis (who I never liked in the little That 70's Show that I saw). Here's the official plot outline: "Devastated Peter takes a Hawaii vacation in order to deal with recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know Sarah's traveling to the same resort as her ex ... and she's bringing along her new boyfriend."

   
   

   The movie is the newest entry in Apatow's newly formed genre, "romantic comedies that guys like," following The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. This genre is usually told from the guy's point of view, has a sweet and pretty girl who happens to like a dorky guy (see Judd Apatow's real life), and is full of vulgarities and gross, adolescent sex jokes. All of this is nicely balanced with sincerity and heart that you rarely find in in the rest of the romantic comedy crap being spewed out by Hollywood right now.
   

   
   

   Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a nice new entry to the series, but maybe doesn't stand up as strongly to the previous two. The story is good, but never great. The jokes are funny, but rarely hysterical. As the tamest of the three films, you realize how much they rely on gross-out humor to keep you entertained as the pretty-average plot rolls along. And when you remove most of those disgusting jokes, there's a little less substance than you once thought. But more importantly, the balance the grotesque gives the sentimentality (and visa versa) is so much more important than you realized, and when one is missing, the other seems a little more potent.
   

   
   

   So, that being said (I like to get my beef out of the way first), it is actually a very fun movie, and there is still plenty of shocks to go around. There are some very funny situations, witty commentary on Hollywood, and some great characters. Mila Kunis really shines as the girl Segel falls for when Bell's Sarah Marshall dumps him. The real scene stealer in the movie, though, is Russel Brand as Aldous Snow, the lovably full-of-crap rock star.
   

   
   

   Some of my favorite moments of the film are when they would show clips of Sarah Marshal's television program, "Crime Scene," which is a hilariously true parody of crime dramas. There are also great musical moments, as Segel's character, Peter, is writing a rock opera about Dracula with puppets. Very fun. I also found myself running home to iTunes to buy the beautiful Hawaiian cover of Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U by The Coconutz which played during the end credits (which reminds me, don't stand up right away, there's a great clip part of the way through the end credits).
   

   
   

   Anyway, if you are looking for a fun, silly movie to go to, that should please just about anyone, I'd definitely suggest Forgetting Sarah Marshall. You'll have a really good time.
   

   
   

   Ryan's Rating: B+

   
   

   Links

   Rotten Tomatoes

   IMDB