"Tropic Thunder" Movie Review (small-semi-spoiler)

"Tropic Thunder"
(***) (thumbs up!) (see it! own it!)

Again, Ben Stiller has proved that when he directs, its undoubtedly good & funny ("Zoolander", "The Cable Guy", "Reality Bites"). In fact, I like him much better for his movies that he's directed, than the movies he's only starred in (MUCH better).
"Tropic Thunder" isn't 1 of those lame comedies w/ random yet predictable jokes & puns: its everything about Hollywood that must be spoofed; including stars of redundant action-franchises w/ too many installments , rappers who somehow find their way into serious-movie deals , comedians of 2hr. fart-joke after fart-joke movies , and Australian actors in which everything they do turns to gold... (the last part I don't mind, because it is rightfully true, and I respect most if not all high-budget Australian actors & their work... but I do think a parody of them wouldn't hurt).
@ 1st, I thought for sure Robert Downey Jr. was going to steal the show w/ his role of the Oscar-Winning Australian actor who has surgery done to play the African-American Sgt. ... but, SURPRISE! ... it was Tom Cruise who stole the movie... yes, Cruise makes THEE-BEST Cameo in any movie (especially comedy) I have ever seen. I wont spoil WHO Tom Cruise is, and WHAT he does... but, it truly is the best of "Tropic Thunder".
The ONLY complaint I have for this, is that there were 1-too-many drug-abuse jokes involving Jack Black. But besides that, everyone did a great job in this movie. As for summer-comedies? -- this is mostly tied w/ "Pineapple Express". & NOTHING (comically) beats the 3 fake trailers in the beginning.

OVER-ALL: definitely the only comedy this summer that could be a runner up to "Pineapple Express", as 'Best Summer Comedy'.

*I take No Credit for the poster. I got it from photobucket*

"Pineapple Express" Movie Review

"Pineapple Express"
(***) (thumbs up!) (see it! own it!)

This is 1 of thee best buddy-movies I have ever seen. In fact, its so close to being #1.. its tied... w/ "Superbad". Seth Rogan & Co. know how to make a true best-friend movie: By depicting, the best of times, the worst of times, & the most hilarious of times (which are both good & bad for the characters).

James Franco ('Harry Osborn' from the "Spider-Man" trilogy) hasn't really been known for comedy before (to tell you the truth, I don't think he's really known outside of "Spider-Man" 1-3... nothing against him though...) but he WILL BE now. Franco has created the most likable stoner w/ a heart of gold. Seth Rogan, never really putting alot of character into his... character... still manages to lighten-up the screen with his well-known taste of 1-liners & criticisms of other characters. Danny R. McBride as "Red" stole the movie. Very few comedies before have made my friends & I laugh so hard as the first scene when Franco introduces Rogan to McBride @ his house.
This movie is definitely a top runner in the all-time race of classic R-rated 1-liners. This is a comedy I would even consider seeing a 2nd time.
OVER-ALL: Go see this. You owe yourself the laughs.

*I take No Credit for the Poster. I got it from Photobucket*

"The Mummy 3" Movie Review

"The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor"
(**) (thumbs side ways) (see it, if you really want)

Now, before I went to see this... I didn't exactly have the best of hope for it; due to multiple reasons:
I.They had recast Rick's wife (plain & simple.. 'thats lame')
II. It wasnt the same director of the 1st 2 (LAME)
III. They got a new villain... ---

--- ...Now, the part w/ the villain for the 3rd-installment was tricky all-around.
It was a lose-lose fight, they were NEVER going to win. If they kept the original villain from the 1st 2 movies, people would've complained: "Ah! They just keep repeating the same plot & situation over-&-over-again! its the same thing!" ; when they did get a new villain, some people complained: "This is lame! I like the villain from the 1st 2". No matter what, people were gonna b--ch.
Those 3 reasons are why this movie was just not gonna be loved from the beginning.
I (personally) thought it was fair. Except, 1 thing bothered me... the CGI:
It was... I dont want to say "horrible".. but it wasn't as good as the 1st 2 (being weird that Pt. I came out in 1999, & Pt. II was in 2001.) you think they would've had enough money from the franchise to improve on the graphics & effects (not saying #1 & #2 had bad CGI, it was actually impressive, & still good today) But the special-effects actually got worse! I dont know how... but, o-well.
This film was a disappointment in many areas & departments. But it was still enjoyable & entertaining. But,over-all (as some fans, audiences & critics) are saying: " 'The Mummy: III' is slightly the 'poor-man's' 'Indiana Jones' ".

Give it a try, you may like it. Worth a buy? When its priced in the single digits... I'll think about it.

Next: Ill be reviewing "Pineapple Express" & Tropic Thunder"

*I take NO credit for the poster. & I got it from Photobucket*

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July, 2008 Movie Reviews (*semi-spoilers*)

I) "Hancock"

1) PROS:
A) This had typical Will Smith humor (sadly, that didnt take it far).
B) The bank scene (his 1st scene as an actual hero) was pretty cool.
C) ... ... ...

2) CONS:
This movie started out good.. slow.. but good.
The 1st half was pretty cool & different..
& the 2nd half even started out being impressive (the bank scene).
But, w/ about 30 min. to go.. it started going down-hill...
Barely anything made sense, & it seemed like they started to make up stuff as
they went along (the writers)... NOTHING was hardly explained..
Now, you may ask: "whats there to explain? He Starts-out as a superhero..."
Well, the story waits till the last 25 min. to give you peices & bits of
their attempt of a half-@$$ed, mysterious origin.. but Theron only gives words such as: "we" , "they" , "where".. & thats about it.. out of 100%.. they have you 9% of any facts or clues. Plain-&-Simple: this movie f***ed-up.

OVER-ALL: (**) (thumbs down)



II) Hellboy II The Golden Army

1) PRO:
Well, this was a tricky movie for me (before I saw it)...
Like I said in the July-Previews, I'm not much of a Hellboy fan...
The 1st installment, was alright.. not really a movie of mine.
But my 1 friend, does like Hellboy alot, so, of course I would see it..
but, lets just say, I wasnt 100% looking forward to it..
So, I walk in, sit down, & think to myself: "Wow, I'll be lucky if I make it through this & get outta here"... BUT, I really liked it. It was WAY better than I thought it would be, pretty good. One of the biggest pleasant & unexpected surprises of 2008 blockbusters.

OVER-ALL: (***) (Thumbs Up)(See It)



III) Step Brothers

1) PROS:
Will Ferrel & John C. Riley are a great comedy team, & its good that we get 1 movie from them almost every year; but they really should make a little more.

2) CON:
Its a shame it was rated "R", cause there was ALOT of stuff in this movie that 13-15 year olds would've loved.

OVER-ALL: (**) (Thumbs Up) (See It)


*I Reviewed "The Dark Knight" In The Very Post Right Before This*