Merged and moved on...

For those of you who stumble upon this blog, I've moved my stuff on to a merged blog over here. And so far it's been a lot more TV than movies or other stuff, so you're welcome to check out my fresher takes on shows there. In time I guess there will be a lot more movies along with TV, comics and books, but I doubt I'll ever keep up movie by movie reviews. Anyway hopefully worth checking out.

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The Next Three Days (2010)

The Next Three Days

A remake of Pour elle from France, and a slightly weaker one. The story is pretty much the same, but they've made it slightly longer and changed some minor details. Sadly some of those changes didn't help at all, while the movie overall also lacks the gritty feel of the French one staring Vincent Lindon and Diane Kruger.

Banks and Crowe isn't to blame. They both work well in this one, but both also feels like copies of the originals. Still. They have a weaker script to work with, and the Hollywood makeover usually leaves something to be desired for the actors as well.

Still decent enough entertainment value here as well, but I hope most choose to watch Pour elle anyway.

Megamind (2010)

Megamind

For once we follow the super-villain rather than the hero, just like we did in Despicable Me. This one is funnier, have more style and some degree of cool.

The animations isn't stunning or anything, but it survives well on some creativity and inspired moments.

Chasing Liberty (2004)

Chasing Liberty

One of my guilty pleasure favorites. I adore Mandy Moore here, the story is quite charming and we got to see a few nice locations along the road.

It's light entertainment, pure feelgood and I'll probably watch it again and again. Here is what I wrote last time around.

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Murder on the Orient Express

I'm not a huge fan of Lumet and Albert Finney's Poirot. I've read a lot of Christie novels and seen a lot of Poirot, and this one didn't fell like the real deal.

The rest of the cast is great; both talented and with the right feel for the story. The story itself is classic, and Lumet doesn't exactly do it injustice despite I hate the beginning's focus on the kidnapped baby.

Wild Child (2008)

Wild Child

This movie fails when it takes itself too seriously too often, as it could have become the new satirical teen movie like so many have been successful as before.

Emma Roberts has talent, and some of her friends are well cast as well. It's still a textbook repetition of movies we've seen before, with soft humor and unbearable predictability.

The Proposal (2009)

The Proposal

I've got a soft spot for both the leads, despite their many bad choices. This movie is exactly what you'd expect it to be; a flawed Rom-Com that doesn't hit every note.

It still got moments of both heart and humor, a reasonable enough rough idea and chemistry between the leading characters. Solid support cast helps a lot, and the leads doesn't take them self too seriously.

It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Have you ever noticed how people starts their story with the line "It's Kind of a Funny Story", and then it's usually not funny at all. Well. That's sadly also the case with the movie titled that way. This movie falls between all the stereotypical mines it aims to make fun of itself not getting trapped in.

It's not funny enough, it's nowhere near good drama and it's predictable enough all the way. Keir Gilchrist lacks the energy and charisma to carry the story, and Roberts and Galifianakis joins a lot of other more or less seriously stereotypical characters without hopes of keeping it afloat around the lead.

Punisher: War Zone (2008)

Punisher: War Zone

Ray Stevenson takes on the roles as The Punisher, but I really didn't like him nearly as much as Thomas Jane in that role. With a couple of decent exception, also the support cast is a lot weaker.

The Punisher faces more Gotham-esque villains this time, but without the style and charisma Batman have to face. As the first time around bullets fly, blood is shed with light heart and it lacks the style and flavor to pull it off with success.

Scores points on brutality, but lacks the emotional luggage to make us care either way.

The Punisher (2004)

The Punisher

The Punisher blends a Hong Kong action idea of flying bullets with the superhero role. It lacks the stylish execution Hong Kong often managed, but it also manages to hold a steady course for its plotline like so many Hong Kong movies failed at.

Thomas Jane is decent enough as the protagonist, and there's actually several well cast support roles. The neighbors add some flavor to the movie, but this is a revenge flick and little else. At some points it just gets to sappy around the so-called drama at side.