Ghostbusters TOO!: Retro Review

I still remember being as psyched as any child could get for the opening of a new movie. From the ages of 6-9 I'd been watching "The Real Ghostbusters" cartoon and playing with as many of the toys from the product line that was released within the same time frame. To me, Ghostbusters 2 was going to be the greatest thing since sliced bread, how could it not live up to the build up and hype? I got to see it opening weekend, in Cortland, NY, at one of those old school theaters that had one, maybe two screens to its name and would have to stagger all the big summer releases. This was going to be the best film of the summer of 89', right?

Well, not so much. It just didn't stay in your mind after you left the theater. Whereas a film like Batman, within the same month of release, had my father and I going back to see that roughly seven times! It just didn't have anything particularly memorable about it. It was obvious looking back the studio wanted to cater to the kid demographic over the young adults and above, and yet that completely backfired. It was watered down Ghostbusters. Hell, I remember the cartoon taking bolder risks and feeling quite spooked as a kid watching some of those episodes compared to Ghostbusters 2.0. Maybe the sequel just needed more Walter Peck? Oh right, he wasn't even in this entry! That was a big fail on the part of the producers (in my opinion), not convincing William Atherton to reprise the classic role of douche baggery he played so well in the original. I think another problem was reducing the Ghostbusters in the movie to not being appreciated by the citizens of NY within the context of the film. Five years had past since the events in the original and now all of a sudden, even after saving the city from an apocalypse, they're treated like a big joke. Perhaps that theme only served to make the viewing audience not take the characters as seriously as they did in the original. Even Pete Veinkman, played so iconically by Bill Murray in the original film, was a shell of his own shelf in the sequel. Sure, he had a couple choice one liners, like "Well, you're not gonna get a green card with that attitude pal!", but overall, he just lacked the swagger he had in the first film. Murray made that character likeable in the first film by being a funny jerk for the bulk of the film. It was almost Tony Stark/Robert Downey Jr esque. And in the second, he just wasn't the same. I'd imagine this is why Bill Murray to this day rarely talks about the experience making the sequel. He clearly wasn't having a good time and it's no wonder he didn't want to go back for thirds over the last 20 years.

Having said all that, I will say the Dr. Janosz Poha character, played so well by Peter MacNicol was one of the bright spots to the film. He played the perfect weirdo, but in a very zany, awkwardly funny kind of way. To this day my friends and I will still quote some of his lines in the film. He played a funny creep. Other than that, it was a mostly forgettable sequel that was hyped to no end directly by the cartoon that was on ABC for three years, and the insane lineup of toys and other merchandise put out during that era. I even remember some Oprah special that had the entire cast in for a big interview before its summer release. Was Ghostbusters 2 a financial success? Absolutely. It was made for under $40 million dollars and took in roughly $200 million worldwide. Normally that would warrant a third film, but it's never seen the light of day. Without Bill Murray wanting to get on board, it's kind of tough to make another Ghostbusters film without such an iconic character present. And to be honest, I'm glad Dan Akroyd and co. never forged ahead with another film without him. I remember hearing rumors about there being some Will Smith led, Ghostbusters: The next generation film back in the late 90s/early 2000s. It would have amounted to CRAP!

The second film was a forced example of trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice. It rarely happens. Has it ever dawned on anyone why Ghostbusters 2 has yet to be released on the Blu-ray format? Nuff said.


Look at this time-capsule (USA Today newspaper from 1989, week of the film's release)

Hangover 3: Not nearly as bad as you'd expect (from other reviews)

I'm going to get right to the point. The Hangover Part 3 is a decent third entry into any franchise of films. It's not horrible, it's no Battle Los Angeles, but it's also no comedy classic either. I'm perplexed as to what critics (well who cares what real critics think about comedies, they've never been kind to comedy films in the past, right?) and fans came to expect from a third Hangover film but I'm here to tell you it's really not that bad. It's certainly not as awful as current reviews suggest, and I honestly enjoyed myself for the one hour and forty minute running time I spent watching it on the big screen.

The good news is the creative team decided to take the storyline in a much different direction than the previous installments. That's right, the old formula of seeing the wolfpack wake up after a night of an absurd amount of drinking and shenanigans towards the end of the film's first act isn't happening this time. Instead, it's more of a mystery plot as Stu, Phil, and Alan (Doug's once again relegated to sideline status) try to figure out how to track down Mr. Chow and deliver him to a man named Marshall, played most excellently by John Goodman. As a matter of fact, I'll say that John Goodman owns every scene he's in and that alone prevented this film from "almost sucking" status as far third films goes. Fans may even be delighted at the return of "Black Doug" from the first Hangover film. Old friends, familiar faces are apart of the ride that is Hangover 3, which really helps dovetail everything that's happened from the first film's story arc to the conclusion of this entry. Remember people, this ain't Casablanca, this is a Hangover film, and I think some people forget to realize this isn't supposed to be an instant classic like the first one seemed to be heralded as in 2008.

This isn't to say there's not some points to be made about the film's shortcomings. I'd personally have liked to see less of the Leslie Chow character and more to do for the others involved. It's funny because the story begins with Alan having a forced intervention from his family and the rest of the Wolfpack, but the film really centers around Chow being apprehended. I also think by the third act the story becomes fairly predictable and less humorous in that portion of the film. Then again, a lot of comedies suffer the same fate in losing steam by the end. Nonetheless,  I will recommend that you stay for the end credits. The greatest irony with this movie is the real hangover for the gang doesn't take place until the absolute end of this film. I'm sure that has and will piss many people off, but again, at least the creative team attempted to go in a new direction for what I'm guessing will be the last hurrah for Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis.

Overall I give it 2 1/2 out of 4 stars. Not great, but certainly not a bad comedy by any stretch of the imagination.

Nuff said!

Star Trek Into Darkness: One hell of a rollercoaster ride....

I've waited 4 long years for the follow up to the successful rebirth of Trek in 2009, and I'm relieved to say it was indeed worth the long wait. There were times I wondered whether or not Paramount Pictures, and the creative team involved of JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Burk, and Damon Lindelof were REALLY going to get around to making a sequel. Thankfully they did.

Where do I even begin with this entry? For starters, the opening scene is like getting a taste of what the original cast of Star Trek could have had for adventures if the budgets back in the late 60s and even during the 80s had allowed them to showcase the crew doing some of what you see here. I almost felt like picturing the original actors who played Dr. McCoy, Capt. Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the gang while they race to save a planet that's about to become extinct from a nearby Volcano that's about to blow. However, you don't need to, because the younger actors portraying these characters do such a believable and wonderful job from beginning to end. As Kirk and McCoy escape the natives of this dying planet on foot, in a chase scene that harkens back to Raiders of the Lost Ark, you're instantly catapulted into this adventure. Later seeing Spock inside a volcano that's about to explode was a thing of beauty for your eyes, which is something this film has going for it throughout. It has a visual aesthetic that never ceases to disappoint, even if the camerawork is a bit jarring at times. Once the natives of the planet Nibru are saved, and the mission is complete, you see the Enterprise blasting off into the sky with Michael Giacchino's memorable theme that helps open the film in the best way possible. At this point if you're not already smiling ear to ear, then perhaps you're a cylon and you don't have a pulse! It was the kind of home-run opening to a movie you need to catch the average viewer's attention, along with the die hard Trekkie as well.

Without giving away too much of the plot, it's a classic story of revenge in which the crew of the Enterprise have to deal with a new threat they've not been tested by before. The main allegory involved with this story deals with the concept of what if governments use fear to justify the means in becoming too powerful? That's at least what I came away thinking. The villain, (well there's actually two) played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is someone you may even find yourself sympathizing with as the plot moves along. He does a masterful job portraying someone with a lot of built up anger and tension. (for reasons I won't spoil in this review) I also need to mention the great job Bruce Greenwood did once again playing Admiral Pike. For the short amount of screen-time he has, he makes it worthwhile by making you believe he truly is Kirk's mentor and father figure. Tough love being the operative term here with one scene in particular showcasing Kirk getting his ass chewed in such a way you can't but help feel like you're right in the moment with him as Pike lectures him to no end. And Peter Weller, who plays the newly established character of Admiral Marcus deserves high praise for really just flat out kicking ass in this movie. Some of his one liners are delivered so on point, I find it hard to not want to recite some of this badassery while joking around with friends. It's a shame he hasn't worked in more films the past decade, because cinema has missed his acting chops and screen presence. There's no doubt about that.

Overall if you're a fan of the original series, the older Star Trek films, or just a fan of movies that can give you a rush of excitement along with the ability to even make you feel emotion within a scene, then go see this film immediately. There's something for everyone in this movie. What surprised me the most was how well a couple of the more emotional scenes were played out in this film. Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine, playing Spock and Kirk really do hit a nerve towards the end of the film and I myself was quite stunned at how many layers of emotion were projected with one scene in particular. Kleenex may be needed for some and that's a sign of brilliant acting on their part. As far as the action goes, I have to mention this, but there's one moment where Kirk and his crew realize they may be in deep deep trouble, and it's played out to where the audience realizes it's an "oh shit" moment as well. So when you witness the Enterprise getting chased down in warp speed, you just KNOW what's coming and this kind of action moment was executed so well that even just getting to see that on the big screen was well worth the price of admission.

That being said, is the film perfect? No, but it's an awfully great ride at the cinemas. I think the only areas JJ Abrams could have done differently was maybe slow down some of the camera movements. Some of the action scenes move at a neck breaking pace, and as much as that serves to thrust the audience into the chaos, I still prefer seeing action move from point A to point B in a more methodical manner. Additionally, hopefully in the next film they add in a little more screen-time for Karl Urban, who portrays Dr. McCoy so well you'd think he was Deforest Kelley's long lost son. With that in mind I really think the creative team needs to add in some more Kirk/Spock/McCoy moments and scale back slightly on the Kirk/Spock/Uhura dynamic. The former trio is what really made Trek shine the most in its heyday. Other than that, hats off to all involved. It's one of the few films you may find yourself wanting to see again and again this summer. It has the replay value Iron Man 3 didn't have, and there's plenty of things you may miss the first time out because of its relentless pace.

Nuff said.

3 1/2 out of 4 stars.

Iron Man 3: Better than 2, but 1 still has the most heart....

I went into this movie hoping it was at least better than its predecessor, Iron Man 2. In the end, I was more than satisfied in that regard. However, for those that are proclaiming this is the best of the three Iron Man films I respectfully disagree.

I'm not going to give away the plot, minus the overall story arc for Tony Stark in this entry. After the events in The Avengers, Tony (played so effortlessly by Robert Downey Jr) is battling his own demons, in the form of PTSD. So with that he becomes even more obsessed with his own work, ignoring the love of his life, Pepper Potts. (Gweneth Paltrow keeps getting better with age it seems) It's with that conflict that the movie centers around. Tony needs to focus more on what really matters, and less on his toys. And ya know, in some ways I see a hidden message buried within the films story: Guys need to give up hobbies and only focus solely on their significant others. I'm not saying the film's writer, Shane Black, was really aiming for that kind of meaning, but in some weird way I left the theater pondering whether there was something to that idea. I didn't like that aspect either way. There's a balance somewhere to be found.

Nonetheless, the film soars in the action department. The dialogue is also very catchy and is something one should expect from a Shane Black movie. (Those may forget he scripted the first Lethal Weapon film in 1987) It also flows a lot better than Iron Man 2, something I had a major issue with as compared with the first entry in the series. The film does jump around a lot the first half, but overall you see the dots connecting towards the film's climax. The supporting characters do a great job with Guy Pierce doing a pretty "decent" job playing Aldrich Killian, and of course Ben Kingsley does a fantastic job playing the film's main villain, "The Mandarin" given the source material. 

As far as the bad points of this film are concerned, as amazing as the aerial rescue of roughly a dozen people, falling from Air Force One was, it all took a nose dive (no pun intended), when it was revealed Tony Stark wasn't even in his Iron Man suit. He was instead patched in remotely to a suit that took care of it for him. I'm sorry, but that just takes away the thrill from my perspective. Superhero films shouldn't have any instances where saving people's lives is solely reliant on technology versus the human element. Lastly, as phenomenal as you'd expect Ben Kingsley to be as Mandarin, there's a juncture in the film where his character has a slight change in tone, and without giving more away I'll simply say it was arguably "meh", but I suppose it was needed given the circumstances. I'll let you be the judge on what you felt there.

Other than that, it was without a doubt a very entertaining superhero film that hit the right notes visually, it was funny in many instances amidst the chaos, and well acted all around. Nuff said...

2.5/4 stars.

Star Trek The Next Gen: Best of Both Worlds, On the big screen (Review)

If you're a die hard trekkie, than the temptation to plop down 12 dollars to see a completely remastered version of a Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series episode on the big screen may be too tough to resist. In this case, it wasn't just an episode, it was THE best episode of the seven season run of the TV series, a two parter, that could be argued was responsible for cementing the Next Gen as a pop culture icon going forward. I would also argue if not for the Best of Both Worlds as a classic TV drama, than there would be no $185 million dollar upcoming Star Trek film that will hit theaters next month. It truly was that important in extending the shelf life of Star Trek in general.

As far as the overall experience tonight, it was surreal seeing such an epic two part episode, blown up on a gigantic screen, with film grain quality, and digital surround sound in a manner you'd have never thought possible watching it twenty years ago on your tiny TV set. It elevated it to feature length film quality, and was a reminder that the cast of the Next Generation never quite got a big screen film entry you could argue was a classic on the level this two part episode was to legions of Trek fans.

One important observation was Brian Dennehy's daughter, Elizabeth Dennehy, who played the important role of Commander Shelby in this two parter, who really injected an edginess to this ensemble cast that had been lacking in the series up until that point. It's a crying shame the writers of the show never bothered to find an excuse to write her character into later episodes of this series. Speaking of her character, I couldn't help but laugh out loud at the line from her superior officer, Admiral Hansen, played by the late George Murdock, who utters to Captain Picard that Shelby is something of an "old man's fantasy". That drew some expected chuckles from the crowd tonight, and I know I was laughing the hardest. It was very rare for that show to have any sort of true innuendo even hinted at, so when it happens, it stands out like a sore thumb.

Overall, if the cast of the Next Generation can't get Paramount to sign off on another feature film, I suppose the kind of event like tonight is the next best thing. However, if Star Wars is going to have spin-off films in between the main films of the franchise, why can't Star Trek do the same? Sure, it doesn't need to be on the same inflated budget the new JJ Abrams Star Trek is getting, but maybe enough for this cast to get the proper send off it deserves and never got.

Nuff said!

Star Trek: The Video Game (review)

It's typical that most video games made in honor of a movie franchise typically suck out loud. However, in the case of this game, Star Trek: The Video Game, it's obvious the makers DID put some thought and effort into it. It's an original storyline that features the once famous villain from the original series TV show known as "The Gorn". However, this ain't your daddy's Gorn, this iteration of this species falls more in line with the velociraptors you saw in Jurassic Park.

The short end of my verdict for this game, if you love all things Star Trek, then you need to pick this up. If you're on the fence about Star Trek shows and their movies in general, then I'd definitely not be as quick to recommending it as a worthy buy. It's nothing groundbreaking to the video game industry, but it is groundbreaking to a Star Trek centric audience because it's one of the best games that's been made for the series since the 90s.

What makes this game extremely authentic to the Trek lore is it has an original story, set between the events of the 2009 feature film and the upcoming sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness. It also has every single actor from those films voicing their main character. That's right, the entire gang of actors and actresses that brought the original series characters to life four years ago on the big screen recorded hefty amounts of dialogue for this game. Add to it, an original music score that hits just the right notes throughout the course of the game, really giving it the ambiance it needs to make the gamer feel like they're apart of a film, not just a video game. Even just getting to roam around the bridge of the Enterprise freely is a trip. It should also be noted the contributions of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, voicing their characters of Kirk and Spock were nicely done. It's easy to forget as they banter back and forth that this is simply a game over a full length movie.

As far as the gameplay, the controls do take some getting used to, I did find myself sometimes mixing up the right button to open the tricorder scanning device as opposed to the weapon I needed to be using to fend off the bad guys, but nothing too cosmic to get the hang of. There are those that feel this game has a Mass Effect quality to it with the movements and controls being more third person, over the shoulder. I suppose I agree, but it takes nothing away from you feeling like this is Star Trek, not Mass Effect.

I'm only into the second mission of the game and it's obvious this isn't a game you'll conquer in 4 hours time. It's got a lot of meat to it, and it's by no means just shoot to kill every moment, there's many instances where you have to have your character of Kirk or Spock study or scan an object, or figure out some way to get from one room or obstacle to the next. Overall, there's some level of thought process your own brain will need to run through to get from point A, to B, to C, etc.

All in all, ignore the haters of this game. I'm getting the vibe that if new games don't completely emulate Call of Duty in the ultra life like graphics department, then said game will garner a below average review score. That's just wrong in my opinion. And speaking of graphics, I personally think they're just fine for a game like this. They're bright, colorful, and detailed enough to make you think your setting your phasers to stun in the Star Trek Universe. (forgive me, I had to be somewhat cheesy)

I rate it a 4 out of 5 stars IF you dig Star Trek, and a 2.5 out of 5 stars if you hate Star Trek. It's just that simple. Nuff said:)

Oblivion: A visually arresting execution of a familiar formula...

I walked out of the theater today completely satisfied with Joseph Kosinski's Oblivion. I'm sure some people will knock the storyline and plot twists as being too familiar to some past sci-fi film incarnations, but that didn't detract from the overall experience for me.  It's really no different than someone who copies a fantastic food recipe, it then becomes important to at least not fumble the ball on executing the formula. Make no mistake, this is a well made film for several reasons I'll get into later....

The overall premise, Earth's been given one major enema from nuclear war that was waged to fight off Aliens who destroyed the moon decades in the past. There are only tiny pockets of life left on the planet, and Tom Cruise's character of Jack is apart of a two person team, who's job it is to make sure automated drones are allowed to comb the surface of the earth and protect these massive fuel collectors. (that collect as much of the leftover water supply as possible to be used as energy on one of Saturn's moons, where the rest of humanity now resides)

Visually this movie gets four stars, easily. I would not expect anyone to walk out of the theater and think they'd been had in that department. The sound design and soundtrack also was top notch. It's those elements that capture your imagination enough for you to be put into the main character's world and feel a part of the journey. So even if you think you can predict the films twists and turns for the storyline, you'll be content enough to stay engaged due to the other variables. I also feel, this film opens up a door of much interpretation for viewers. I came away with a few of my own deeper meanings the film was trying to convey beneath the surface of a formulaic plot, about humanity and it's behavior on Earth, and that alone was enough for me to not feel like it was just some big rip off money grab for Hollywood.

And for those who avoid Tom Cruise films just because he's attracted attention over the years for his private life and decisions, I say get a life! Grade him on how he handles acting in movies and the performance that you're paying to see when the lights go dark. Last I knew, you don't see too many people resisting wanting to see the latest Iron Man due to Robert Downey Jr's much troubled past, off the big screen. I just hate to see people turn down the chance to see a movie that gives you the opportunity to escape reality, and immerse yourself into another world for a few hours.

Oblivion gets 3 1/2 out of 4 stars from me. Nuff said.