Wanted

Review: Wanted is a visual thrillride

January 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pm by Laff at the Movies under Entertainment

 Do you remember what it was like the first time you saw all those cool effects for the first time when seeing “The Matrix” (1999)? 

Okay, we’ll this isn’t totally like that, but pretty close as far as awesome action and effects that push the limits a little bit more… there’s no groundbreaking like “bulletime”, but there are some very cool visuals!!!
"Wanted" poster courtesy Universal Pictures This is easily one of the best action movies of 2008… the action is great, the stunts are cool, the storyline isn’t too complicated to follow and even the minor characters are well developed.

But – parents beware – it does have an “R” rating for a reason.

James McAvoy fits the role of Wesley perfectly, going from dorky to death defying… Angelina Jolie is cool as the female assasin that McAvoy first encounters… and Morgan Freeman is solid as the leader of the group with a complexity that he pulls off with ease.  The supporting cast is convincing as well.

‘Wanted” is very much like “The Matrix” as (more…)


New in theaters/on DVD this week

December 5th, 2008 at 10:07 am by Laff at the Movies under Entertainment

There are a limited number of offerings in wide release at theaters this week, but plenty of great summer choices to rent or buy this snowy week…

In Theaters (Friday): “Punisher: War Zone”, “Cadillac Records” (limited), “Nobel Son” (limited)

"Punisher War Zone" poster courtesy Lionsgate  "Cadillac Records" poster courtesy TriStar Pictures "Nobel Son" poster courtesy Freestyle Releasing

MY TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW IN THEATERS:

Frost/Nixon begins its run, but only in New York and Los Angeles, and while Cadillac Records and Nobel Son are in more theaters, they are still in just a few theaters this weekend.   That leaves us with a third attempt at comic book favorite The Punisher – and the third different actor (Ray Stevenson) to play the title character, the 1989 version starred Dolph Lundgren, but 2004’s starring of Thomas Jane as Frank Castle/The Punisher is the best and its hard to picture anyone else after Jane shined in the title role. 

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On DVD (Tuesday): “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”, “Fly Me To The Moon”, “The Longshots”, “Lower Learning”, “Step Brothers”, “Wanted”, “The X Files: I Want To Believe”

"The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian" poster courtesy Walden Media "Step Brothers" poster courtesy Columbia Pictures "Wanted" poster courtesy Universal Pictures

MY TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW ON DVD:

Some of the summer’s better movies are out on DVD this week: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was a great sequel to the 2005 hit family adventure, although not as great as the first.  Step Brothers was my favorite comedy of the summer with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as grown-up step brothers trying to live in the same house.  Another movie that got good reviews this summer, but I haven’t seen yet hits DVD shelves: Wanted is a cutting-edge action-adventure about a secret society of assasins.

BOTTOM LINE: Either rent one of the movies above or see something already in theaters like “Twilight”“Quantum of Solace”“Australia”“Role Models”, “Changeling”, or “Slumdog Millionaire” (if you can find it, it does not open in West Michigan until Christmas).

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Next Week on DVD: “Dr. Suess’ Horton Hears a Who!”, “Man on Wire”

Next Week at Theaters: “Nothing Like the Holidays”, “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, “Delgo”, “Doubt” (limited)


New on DVD/in theaters this week (12/2-12/7)

December 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 am by Laff at the Movies under Entertainment

There are a limited number of offerings in wide release at theaters this week, but plenty of great summer choices to rent or buy this snowy week…

On DVD (Tuesday): “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”, “Fly Me To The Moon”, “The Longshots”, “Lower Learning”, “Step Brothers”, “Wanted”, “The X Files: I Want To Believe”

"The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian" poster courtesy Walden Media "Step Brothers" poster courtesy Columbia Pictures "Wanted" poster courtesy Universal Pictures

MY TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW ON DVD: Some of the summer’s better movies are out on DVD this week: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian was a great sequel to the 2005 hit family adventure, although not as great as the first.  Step Brothers was my favorite comedy of the summer with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as grown-up step brothers trying to live in the same house.  Another movie that got good reviews this summer, but I haven’t seen yet hits DVD shelves: Wanted is a cutting-edge action-adventure about a secret society of assasins.

- – -

In Theaters (Friday): “Punisher: War Zone”, “Cadillac Records” (limited), “Nobel Son” (limited)

"Punisher War Zone" poster courtesy Lionsgate  "Cadillac Records" poster courtesy TriStar Pictures "Nobel Son" poster courtesy Freestyle Releasing

MY TAKE ON WHAT’S NEW IN THEATERS:

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