I caught up on several movies while flying to and around Asia. Most of them were new releases that are out of theaters but not yet available on Blu-ray/DVD. There were some surprises for me, but for the most part I was happy that I didn’t pay money to see these movies in theaters. Here’s the rundown.
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I caught up on several movies while flying to and around Asia. Most of them were new releases that are out of theaters but not yet available on Blu-ray/DVD. There were some surprises for me, but for the most part I was happy that I didn’t pay money to see these movies in theaters. Here’s the rundown.
The Karate Kid: I had a huge problem with this movie conceptually. The martial art used in this film is kung-fu, not karate. In my head it just confuses kids into thinking that all Asian martial arts are the same…which is just a step away from saying all Asians look the same. Still, I heard that Jaden Smith was absolutely charming in this movie and I was curious to see if superior genetics spawned a great star. In my opinion, the genes cancelled each other out. Smith is just another crappy child actor. I’m convinced that everyone that praised his performance was really kissing his parents’ asses. Most importantly, the Karate Kid remake didn’t have the awesome music that powered the first two films. Joe Esposito’s “You’re the Best” is legendary.
The Cop Out: Kevin Smith gets tons of praise for his writing and loads of flack for his directing. I was surprised that a studio gave him a movie — with none of his fantastic writing — to direct. There are a handful of laughs in the film, which wasn’t a surprise because Tracy Morgan is hilarious, but for the most part it really sucked. Ironically, Smith’s did a capable job directing the film. The writing was just mediocre.
Shrek Forever After: I like the Shrek movies. They’re entertaining for children and adults. While this one is a step down from the previous films, I was entertained. It’s pretty much what I expected and wanted from Shrek. That said, I’m happy I didn’t pay $10 to see it in a theater.
The A-Team: This movie surprised me. My expectations were low and they were absolutely obliterated. It’s a fun, fast, and stupid flick with some sweet action. Liam Neeson wasn’t nearly as ridiculous as I thought he’d be and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has a nice future in action movies (if he wants it). Although Jessica Biel is completely unbelievable as a military women, she’s always nice to look at. Out of all the airplane movies I watched, this was my biggest surprise.
Iron Man 2: I love this movie (except for the 15 seconds with “Bolivia Bunn”). The dialog and action are fantastic. I watched it at least five times, with several partial viewings that were interrupted by sleep. I haven’t watched all the big movies of 2010, but out of the ones I’ve seen, this was my favorite.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on any or all of these movies. Fire away (please)!!!!
. Majestros is cool and underrated. You should read his books. Anyway, today’s question is really simple: what was the biggest gaming news while I was away from the site?