Synopsis:
Our favorite amnesiatic super spy Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is back for the third chapter of this adventure. Picking up right where The Bourne Supremacy left off, the hunt for the truth is on in earnest. As Bourne races to find a CIA leak with truth of his past, a new covert program called Blackbriar sends a group of highly-skilled assassins to terminate him. Can Jason unravel the mysteries of his dark past and finally free himself of his corrupt creators?

Review:

I never reviewed the first two films in this series, but I feel like they would be very similar to the review you are about to read. All three of the films are, at least in my opinion, equally impressive. I find it difficult to pick a favorite.

Cinematography: You will find that this movie feels like The Bourne Supremacy. If you pay attention you’ll notice that there is a difference in the way the fight scenes are shot in The Bourne Identity compared to the second and third movie. Though I initially liked the filming in Identity, I’ve found that the style in Supremacy and Ultimatum is superior. It gives you a better feel for the speed and ferocity of the fights as they occur.

Action/Effects: The action in this movie is pretty fast-paced and impressive. You don’t get bored at all and the stunts keep you on the edge of your seat. I don’t think they did much that was extraordinarily different from the other two films, but I did feel that it was a lot more suspenseful.

Plot: I don’t want to say much here because I don’t want to ruin the plot for those who haven’t seen it. I do have to say that they took an interesting approach to tying what we see at the end of Supremacy to the story in Ultimatum. Other than that, I would say that the bad guys were mildly predictable but the writers did a good job of keeping the audience frustratingly engaged.

Overall: I think this is definitely worth a movie ticket. As for the choice of matinée or prime time, I would defer to your enjoyment of the first two movies. This one is much the same. For the fans who can’t get enough, you won’t be disappointed.

The Bourne Files 3-Disc Collection (The Bourne Identity / The Bourne Supremacy)

I have been a fan of Travis for several years. A friend of mine suggested I try out this band that she had been listening to for a while. I decided what the heck–I didn’t have anything to lose. It was one of my best musical decisions. I got my hands on “Writing to Reach You” and I loved it. I’ve been a fan ever since.

Though I’ve been a long-time fan, I’ve never had the opportunity to see them live. I came close on October 11th, 2001, when they came to my hometown of Ann Arbor, MI. Unfortunately, that was to be my last chance for six years! Then I got one of the coolest birthday presents ever from my buddy Rohit, two tickets to a Travis concert here in D.C.! So this past Monday, June 16th, 2007, after many years of waiting, my girlfriend and I saw Travis live at the 9:30 Club in NW D.C. Here are my thoughts:

My opinion of the venue hasn’t changed since my review of Anna Nalick. The only difference this time was that it was much, much more crowded. This is understandable, since Travis is of a completely different caliber.

Having never seen them live, I was concerned that they would disappoint me. Some bands are great in a studio but horrible live. I think that Maroon 5 is a very good example of this phenomenon. They don’t even sound good on awards shows. I am happy to report that Travis did not let me down. They were everything I expected and more. The great thing about the band is that they had real personality. They didn’t just stand on the stage and sing (I’ve seen artists do this.) They actually gave us a show. The on-stage antics of the band were quite amusing. Only the drummer, Neil Primrose, seemed a bit subdued. I was a little concerned when guitarist Andy Dunlop climbed the speaker sets. Luckily, he didn’t fall and kill himself.

The music itself was incredible. They played a wide variety of their music spanning from their first album, Good Feeling, to their latest, The Boy With No Name. Of course I heard all of my favorites, including “Writing to Reach You,” “Sing,” “Pipe Dreams,” “Driftwood,” and “Eyes Wide Open.” The end of the main set was “Turn,” which is definitely a great. Things almost went awry when lead singer Fran Healy got shocked in the mouth by his mic and stopped the show. He was actually good-humored about it, but it did spoil the momentum of their last number. The encore was great too. I especially liked their performance of “Flowers in the Window“. I guess you could call it an acoustic version as all of the band members crowded around an acoustic guitar and a single mic and sang together. I also loved “Why Does it Always Rain on Me?”, when everyone (yes, me too) did the pogo for the last refrain. Oh, and you can’t forget their rendition of AC/DC’s “Back in Black” (which I am told by a critical listener was very good).

Another great thing about this concert was that it made me appreciate the music more than I did before. I’ve always liked “My Eyes” from The Boy with No Name. Before the band played this song, Fran paused and explained that he wrote this song the night he found out he was going to be a “papa.” Though I thought I understood the lyrics before, they suddenly seemed to be far more meaningful than before. This might sound lame, but I think it made the music a little more real for me.

If you want to actually hear what I heard, go to NPR. Click on the “Listen” link to hear the entire concert. It sounds decent, but it was so much cooler being there. In the end, I have to say that this will definitely be one the few concerts I remember in my life. I sang along to every song and I had the time of my life. If you ever have the opportunity, check them out live. If that’s not an option, I highly recommend their albums (links below). Enjoy!

The Boy with No Name
12 Memories
The Invisible Band
The Man Who
Good Feeling

Synopsis:
Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is back for yet another year at Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Things are a little tougher this year. First off, the Dark Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) is back from his bodyless exile. Then there is the new Hogwart’s High Inquisitor, Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton), a ministry lacky bent on supressing Harry’s tale of Voldemort’s return. On top of that, the evil wizard can get into his mind and a powerful weapon is hanging in the balance. All in all, it’s just another year for the Boy-Who-Lived.

Review:

I have to qualify this review. You may be able to tell from some of my other reviews that I am a bit biased when it comes to Harry Potter. I’m a big fan. BUT, and that’s a big “but,” I can be somewhat objective when it comes to the film as a whole. I’ll use my usual breakdown to cover the highlights.

Plot: This is always a challenge when it comes to making a movie based on a book. It’s especially difficult in this case considering the printed version of The Order of The Phoenix is a whopping 870 pages. I have to admit that they did a decent job of distilling the plot so it could be told in under 2.5 hours. This is not one of my favorite books, and unfortunately the parts I liked about it had to be cut. Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) got a bit of the shaft this time around. Most of his subplots were cut. Personally, I think it was a necessary evil, but evil none the less. One relatively small weakness is that Harry’s and Cho’s (Katie Leung) relationship is left somewhat up in the air, whereas the book is far more definitive. I think this will impact what we know must happen in Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.

Acting: What can I say, they are getting better. They were good in the first two films (too young to be bad). They were bad in the third film (they decided they were “actors”). Now, they’re on a slow but upward climb. There was an improvement in The Goblet of Fire and we see just a little bit more in The Order of the Phoenix. I’m becoming convinced that Rupert Grint is the best of the kid actors, but they are all pretty close.

Action/Effects: These movies get a little bit more impressive with each new chapter. I think this movie gave the effects team a bit more fun than before. Highlights are definitely the students’ battle with the Death Eaters and Dumbledore vs. Voldemort. Apparently all of the CG effects actually were a problem for the movie, so Harry Potter 6 will supposedly have fewer effects.

Overall: It’s Harry Potter. Of course you have to go see it. It should be seen on the big screen and I personally think this is worth a primetime ticket. It’s definitely a better movie than Harry Potter 3 and the plot is more interesting than Harry Potter 1 & 2. Good luck fighting the crowds. The Harry Potter schedule to keep your magical addiction in check:

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (book) :: July 21st, 2007
Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix (dvd) :: Winter 2007
Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (theaters) :: November, 2008
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (theaters) :: June, 2010

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Harry Potter 4)

Synopsis:
When Sam’s (Shia LaBeouf) father gets him a new car, he thinks that he can impress the local jock’s girl, Mickaela (Megan Fox). But something is different with his busted-up old camaro. For one thing, it’s giving him love advice, and another, it drives itself. Little does he know that his brand new set of wheels is a warrior in a galactic battle between two groups of sentient robots. Now Sam is caught in the middle of an age-old feud that is tied to his own past. Who will win the battle over the mysterious Allspark: the righteous Autobots, or the evil Decepticons? The fate of the world hangs in the balance and all we can be sure of is that there is more than meets the eye…

Review:

What can I say, this movie is a new look at a classic part of my childhood. How am I not going to enjoy this film? This was an awesome version of the 80s cartoon. I must say that all of the kids in the movie theater probably had no clue that this movie really is based on an old cartoon show. Here is what I thought about the robot movie of 2007:

Plot: The plot is interesting, but not overly complex. Mystical box of power lands on Earth, bad guys want it, good guys want to stop them. There is a bit of intrigue when it comes to Sam’s history and how his family is linked to the Transformer war. In the end this is a big action flick and the plot is meant to facilitate that. There is some humor in the movie, largely around Sam and Bumblebee.

Action/Effects: This movie was visually impressive. The Transformers are clearly CGI, but who cares. They just look really, really cool. I think that the movie is intended to wow you and it definitely seems to accomplish that goal. I don’t think the visuals are the only merit the movie has, but it is clearly one of its strong points.

Acting: I think Shia LaBeouf is a pretty good actor. He is a kid and he hasn’t been in that much, but everything I see him in, I’m impressed. I saw him in Disturbia and I really liked his performance there. Of course his character here is a little weaker than in that movie, but this is just an action flick. I thought that John Turturro was a little over the top in this movie. I think he’s a great actor (I love his character in Monk on USA), but he seemed too goofy, almost childish and out of place. The rest of the actors are not worth mentioning (including Jon Voight). I should note that some of the original voice talent from the cartoon reprised their roles, so that was cool.

Overall: This movie is a must-see for the big screen. I don’t think it was the greatest movie you’ll ever see, but it was definitely fun to watch. I’m on the fence about this being worth a primetime ticket, but I’m definitely for seeing it at the theater.

The Transformers - The Movie (20th Anniversary Special Edition)

Synopsis:
Chris Gardner (Will Smith) has had a string of bad luck. He sunk his life savings into a medical supply company that isn’t selling. His wife, Linda (Thandie Newton) resents him, and he can barely provide for his son (Smith’s real-life son Jaden), the center of his life. Things go from bad to worse when Linda leaves him, but Chris has a dream. He wants to be a stock broker for Dean Witter. Now he’s risking everything with an unpaid internship, taking a chance in the pursuit of happiness…..

Review:

Unfortunately, though I watched this on DVD and this should be a DVD review, I didn’t actually check out the special features (I watched a single disc widescreen copy from Blockbuster.) As a result, this review is going to be about the movie itself and not about the DVD. If I get a chance to actually check out the disc itself sometime, I’ll post an addendum to this review with details on special features and extras.

Plot: You can’t criticize the plot much because this movie is based on a true story. It’s hard to say real life wasn’t good enough. I thought the story flowed well and it definitely portrayed a man, down on his luck, who refused to let go of his dream. Though most of the movie was sad, with one setback after another, the overall story is uplifting. Surprisingly, there is a bit of comedy in the film and I did find myself laughing a few times. I don’t want to ruin the ending, though I think you can guess what it is. You’ll feel good when you’re done watching this movie.

Acting: The acting was great. I’ve always liked Will Smith, but this was definitely one of his best performances to date. He definitely produced Oscar-worthy work in this movie. He really shows the determination, fear, frustration, and hope that (I’d like to believe) the real Chris Gardner felt. I was also impressed by Jaden Smith. His role, though critical, doesn’t require great depth. After all, Christopher Gardner was only 5 years old. How deep can he be? Still, the boy acted well and I think the existing father/son relationship showed on the screen. The rest of the cast is inconsequential, though I really did get to hating Thandie Newton’s Linda.

Overall: I think that altogether this was a good movie. The story was great and the acting definitely left an impression. I would highly recommend you watch this movie if not purchase it. It’s definitely the type of movie that motivates you and keeps you hopeful. The movie has questionable replay value, but I think that being such a good film makes it a necessary part of a true move collection.

The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)

Synopsis
Lieutenant Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back for more. When he is called in to do a routine pickup for the FBI, things go terribly wrong. Now the young hacker (Justin Long) he was sent to collect is his only means of bringing down a cyber-terrorist with a grudge against the government and a thirst for money. With the country hanging in the balance, “In McClane we trust.”

Review

I’ve always been a fan of the Die Hard films. The everyday cop takes on powerful maniacs has always been a good story, but what makes it better is McClane’s wit. I have to say that it’s a little lacking in this movie, but it doesn’t hurt the film too much. The action, effects, and overall plot more than overcome any shortage of McClane one-liners. Here is my take on Live Free or Die Hard:

Plot: By far, this is the most complex Die Hard plot. It takes a while for the motives of the villains to become clear. More than that, there are several pieces to a very complex scheme. In the end, this film stays true to the basic premise of the first film–it’s all about the money. In this fourth installment, McClane’s daughter (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) plays the role of the familial bargaining chip, a position formerly held by his wife in the first two films. That component of the movie was a little formulaic, but that’s ok.

Acting: Bruce Willis can still do a good job. McClane is back, but he is a little more jaded. In the previous films, McClane is a little more good-humored. In this film, he’s disgruntled due to a divorce and a crumbling relationship with his daughter. Justin Long is definitely a source of comic relief for this movie. He plays a hacker duped into helping the cyber-terrorists. Hearing him rant about a media-controlled society and the gross inadequacies of Creedence Clearwater Revival are fun to watch, not to mention his exchanges with Willis. Also, there is a funny but brief role played by Kevin Smith.

Action/Effects: The action in this movie is over-the-top and almost non-stop. You won’t get bored during this movie, and there isn’t a very long intro. I liked that about this movie–it picks up the action pretty quickly, but still does a good job of revealing the plot smoothly. The stunts, fight scenes, and CG stuff was great. All the action is fluid and the CGI stuff is not very obvious (except of course the F-35 jet, which couldn’t possibly be real.) Interesting note–they actually did take out a helicopter with a police cruiser. Only the propeller on the helicopter and falling gunman were CG.

Overall: This was a good movie and definitely worth watching. I would definitely recommend seeing it in the theater and I would go so far as to say its worth a prime-time ticket. You really have to see this on the big screen to appreciate the stunt sequences and special effects.

And in case you don’t believe me, here is a review from EW.com by Owen Gleiberman. I agree with the review on everything but the grade. When so many unentertaining films are popping up in theaters, Live Free or Die Hard stands out a little. I would have given it a B+/A-. I think that’s a fair grade when you come out of a theater saying “that was pretty good.”

Die Hard Collection (Die Hard / Die Hard 2 - Die Harder / Die Hard with a Vengence / Live Free or Die Hard - Bonus Disc)