Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog, the speedy blue video game character that caused so many kids in the early 90's (myself included) to beg their parents to buy them a SEGA console has finally made his way to the big screen. 

The film is a live-action/CGI hybrid that stars James Marsden, Jim Carrey, and Ben Schwartz (voicing Sonic). The premise is simple; Sonic is a blue, anthropomorphic hedgehog from an alternate dimension that ends up in our world. The U.S. government sends a mad scientist named Dr. Robotnik (played by Jim Carrey) to capture the blue blur and he, of course, wants to harness Sonic's powers and presumably take over the world. Along the way Sonic meets and befriends a small-town Sheriff named Tom (played by James Marsden) who agrees to help him elude the villain. 

Overall, It's nothing too complex but, it is a film targeted towards kids. I took my 7year-old, who has been dying to see the movie for weeks, and he had a blast. Setting aside the fun he had and viewing it just as the movie it is, I thought it was ok. The story is a bit bland and predictable but, I think he film does have some charm. Like the title character himself, the film moves along at a fast pace and at least I can say I was never bored. Sonic himself I though was a likeable character and, while not all of the jokes hit the mark, I did get a few laughs out of his shenanigans. The real standout of the film is Jim Carrey. It was nice to see him return to doing this type of over-the-top character that he used to be so well-known for.

To wrap things up, Sonic the Hedgehog is fun movie. It's not great. It's not going to win any Academy Awards. However, if you have young kids or if you're just a fan of the character then I recommend giving this one a shot.
2.5 out of 5 

Double Feature

It's been awhile since my last post and, while I may have needed a break from writing the regular blog entries, I kept on watching and thinking about movies. Two of the films that I rewatched, having not seen either one in a few years, are the subject of today's post. Those films are 1973's American Graffiti and 1986's Stand By Me. These two have a couple similarities that I think make them a good paring. Firstly, they both take place on the west coast and around the same time period (with Stand By Me set in Oregon in 1959 and American Graffiti set in California in 1962). Both are also coming-of-age movies that focus a small story, with all of the events taking place in a short period of time. 

Oh, and Richard Dreyfuss is in both films.

As for an overview of the films, I'll start with American Graffiti. Right from the get-go we're introduced to Curt and Steve (played by Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howard respectively), two friends who have graduated high school and are set to leave for college the next day. Steve is ready to leave their hometown and move on to the next phase of his life, while Curt is having second thoughts. The film goes on to follow how this last night on the town unfolds not only for Curt and Steve but also two of their friends. One of those friends is John Milner (played by Paul Le Mat) who is the town's drag-racing king that finds himself challenged to a race by Bob Falfa (played by Harrison Ford). The other is Terry (played by Charles Martin Smith), a stereotypical nerdy character at the start but who ends up having the wildest night of them all by the end. It's a fun light-hearted movie, full of great music and likeable characters.

Next up, Stand By Me. The setup is pretty simple; a group of four friends (played by Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell) hear that there is a dead body that hasn't been discovered by police yet. They figure that if they can find it and alert the authorities then they'll be local heroes... and that's the premise. The interactions between the four kids is really what makes the film worth watching. Some of the heart-felt moments feel a little forced and phony, and a few of the comedic beats miss the mark in my opinion but it's still a good movie.

Overall, I like both of these films and, honestly, you can't go wrong with either one. Both films were box-office successes, feature some strong performances, and were nominated for several awards. I personally like American Graffiti a bit more but, I think both are solid movies that I recommend checking out if you've never seen them. 

I give American Graffiti a 4.5 out of 5 and Stand By Me a 3.5 out of 5

Spies in Disguise

Spies in Disguise is the latest animated film from Blue Sky Studios, having just been released into theaters a few weeks ago. It features the voice talents Will Smith, Tom Holland, Rashida Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Reba McEntire, Karen Gillan, DJ Khaled and others. I honestly knew nothing about this movie going in, so I had no expectations. It was surprisingly good. Not great by any means, but compared to some of Blue Sky's other output like Ferdinand, Epic, Robots, and about 47 Ice Age movies, it was good. 

The basic premise is that a super spy named Lance Sterling (voiced by Will Smith) is framed for the theft of an assassin drone by the film's main villain (voiced by Ben Mendelsohn). Now on the run from the very same agency he works for, Lance seeks out a quirky inventor named Walter (voiced by Tom Holland) who accidentally turns the secret agent into a pigeon. Together this unlikely duo needs to avoid being caught, find a way to turn Lance back into a human, and stop the bad guy. 

The plot, while overall a bit formulaic, makes for a pretty fun movie. At only about an hour and forty minutes I thought the film felt a little too fast-paced but, it is targeted to children so it's not a huge surprise. Animation wise, no one is going to mistake this for a Pixar film but, I thought the movie looked pretty good overall and I liked some of the character designs.

 I don't recommend that everyone go out and see this movie. However, as a dad that loves James Bond and Mission:Impossible movies, I took my 7 year old son to see this and we both were able to get enjoyment out of it. 

I give this one a 3 out of 5

10 Kurt Russell Movies Everyone Should See

It's been quite awhile since my last 10 Movies Everyone Should See entry. For anyone who is unfamiliar, this is an ongoing (although sporadic) series highlighting some of the notable movies of a person's career. The reason the series is called 10 Movies Everyone Should See rather than a "Best of" or "Top 10" is because a lot of those types of lists are usually based on box office numbers or critical acclaim. I wanted to take a more comprehensive approach when looking at a film career; combining the good, the bad, the most financially successful, the breakout films, the iconic roles, and the forgotten gems. Previous entries have taken a look at the careers of Sean Connery, Tom Cruise, Alfred Hitchcock, Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, Tom Hanks, Chuck Norris, Steven Spielberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Stewart, and Burt Reynolds. 

This time, as the title of this post indicates, I'll be giving you 10 Kurt Russell movies that I think everyone should see.

#10 Death Proof (2007)

"...Alcohol is just a lubricant for all the individual encounters that a bar offers."

Kurt Russell plays 'Stuntman' Mike in this Tarantino directed peddle-to-the-metal grindhouse film. Whether he's playing a good guy or a bad guy Russell always has a degree of likeability. Stuntman Mike is a murderous psychopath but, he's also charismatic and the best part of the film.

#9 Tombstone (1993)

“You tell 'em I'm coming! And Hell's coming with me”

The golden age of the Hollywood Western has long since past but, we do get a few good ones from time to time. One of the best that the genre had to offer in the 1990's was Tombstone. The film has a really solid cast lead by Russell, and I consider it a must-see for those who enjoy films about the old west.

#8 Escape from New York (1981)

“ I don't give a f*** about your war... or your president."

Kurt Russell has teamed up with Director John Carpenter several times over the course of his career, with Escape from New York being the first. It's a really good movie, just be sure to steer clear of 1996's Escape from L.A.

#7 Dark Blue (2003)

“I may be a goddamn alcoholic but that doesn't mean I can't tell the truth - and I've got all the deep deep dirt right here. Somebody put the cufs on me - let me start talking!”

Set in Los Angeles in 1992, during the days leading up to the verdict in the Rodney King trial, the movie is a thriller about corruption at every level of the L.A.P.D. Kurt Russell is fantastic in the film as Sergeant Eldon Perry, a seasoned officer who is teaching his young partner Bobby (played by Scott Speedman) how to plant evidence, lie on reports, and cover up cold-blooded murders.

#6 Backdraft (1991)

"How do you do it, man? How do you come up with new and amazing ways to f*** up?"

I really like this movie. It's not the best film Russell has starred in and it isn't without its shortcomings. However, when you add in the impressive effects, the solid supporting cast, and the Hans Zimmer score, there was no way I was going to leave it off this list.

#5 The Hateful Eight (2015)

“You only need to hang mean bastards, but mean bastards you need to hang.”

 Featured alongside other Tarantino favorites like Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, and Michael Madsen, Kurt Russell plays John "The Hangman' Ruth in this wintery Western set almost entirely in a secluded haberdashery. It's a Tarantino movie and those are always good and, as for Russell...

… C'mon, it's worth watching just based on that image.

#4 The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969)

"You know... everyone's just out for himself. It was like that everywhere I went. Everyone's just... out for himself."

I was born in the 80's, so to me Kurt Russell is Jack Burton, Snake Plissken, a bit later Wyatt Earp etc. However his career goes all the way back to the 1960's and I wanted to include on this list at least one of his early films. The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes is cheesy and dated but, it's wholesome, harmless fun too.

#3 Miracle (2004)

“When you pull on that jersey, you represent yourself and your teammates; and the name on the front, is a hell of a lot more important, than the one on the back.”

This film about the 1980 'Miracle on Ice' sees Kurt Russell playing Herb Brooks, the coach of the men's hockey team that, against all odds, won the gold medal. It is the Disney-fied version of the actual events but a pretty good sports movie nonetheless. 

#2 Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

"Just remember what ol' Jack Burton does when the earth quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big ol' storm right square in the eye and he says, 'give me your best shot, pal. I can take it'"

Big Trouble in Little China has become something of a cult classic over the years. It's a weird but entertaining film. It isn't my favorite Kurt Russell movie, but Jack Burton might just be the best Kurt Russell character.

#1 Bone Tomahawk (2015)

“Pain is how your body talks to you. You'd do well to listen to it.”

This movie is great. I actually reviewed this one earlier this year and, if you want, you can check out that post out HERE. In short, Kurt Russell turns in a solid performance and I highly recommend the film, I think it's one of his best.




Honorable Mentions: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), The Thing (1982), Tango & Cash (1989), The Barefoot Executive (1971), Overboard (1987)

Transcendence

Released in 2014, Transcendence is 20 minutes worth of plot that meanders it's way to a 2 hour runtime. Despite boasting a fairly impressive cast and a halfway decent sci-fi premise, first time Director Wally Pfister was unable to pull it all together in my opinion.

So, what is the plot of this film? Johnny Depp (in probably the most phoned-in performance of his career) plays Dr. Will Caster. A brilliant mind in the world of artificial intelligence technology, Dr. Caster becomes the target of an assassination attempt by an anti-technology terrorist group lead by Kate Mara. After being shot, Will's wife Evelyn (played by Rebecca Hall) and his colleague Max (played by Paul Bettany) decide to upload his consciousness to a super computer. Like in Avengers: Age of Ultron (I didn't think that movie would come up when I popped in Transcendence) things quickly get out of control, and you soon have and A.I. system that has access to every computer in the world and needs to be stopped. However, where as Ultron had to deal with the likes of Captain America, Thor, and Ironman, Dr. Caster's opposition is an FBI agent played by Cillian Murphy, a horribly miscast Kate Mara, and Morgan Freeman.

Overall, I didn't think this movie was very good. I like the basic premise and there are some good scenes and moments sprinkled throughout but, for everything I liked in the film there were at least two things that I didn't. It's not an unwatchable movie, just a bit underwhelming and not one I'd recommend. 

1.5 out of 5.

Into the Storm

Into the storm is a 2014 film about a team of tornado chasers/documentary filmmakers who are about to come across the storm of the century. It's a lot like 1996's Twister except with none of the charm, a bad script, and worse actors.

The film takes place out in Silverton, Oklahoma. The first characters introduced are a single father named Gary and his two sons Trey and Donnie. The sons are supposed to be filming a "video time capsule" as a school project, which is a lazy way to make sure some of the characters have cameras on them for the found-footage sections of the movie. The second group of characters are the storm chasers. They consist of a meteorologist, a documentary filmmaker and some camera operators. It may seem like I'm breezing past all of the characters but, the film doesn't seem too concerned with giving them any depth so there isn't much to say. 

The first 25 minutes of this movie is a slog to get through, but once some tornadoes start touching down it does pick up the pace. Of course the Silverton High School graduation happens to fall on the same day that massive F5 tornadoes hit the small Oklahoma town, thus bringing all of the actors to the same location. After that, it hits all of the usual disaster movie beats you'd expect. Before the first twister had even touched down I had correctly predicted every character who was going to live to the end of the film. That's not to say many other disaster flicks aren't predictable but, nothing in this one felt original. As for some positives, despite the stilted acting and formulaic plot, the visual effects were a bit better than I expected. The CGI wasn't amazing but it was good enough that I could still get drawn into the latter half of the film.

Overall, I didn't really like this movie but it wasn't frustratingly bad either. 

I'll give Into the Storm a 1.5 out of 5.

The Hollow Point

The Hollow Point stars Patrick Wilson, Lynn Collins, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, and Jim Belushi. It was released back in 2016 and was directed by Gonzalo López-Gallego who has a very limited filmography, but is probably best know for directing the 2011 sci-fi/ horror film Apollo 18.

The premise of this movie is that hollow point bullets are being smuggled into Mexico from the United States, by way of a desolate road out of a small border town. When the town's Sheriff (played by Patrick Wilson) starts to investigate he quickly finds himself in over his head. It turns out that the bullets are being sold to drug cartels and there is a relentless hitman (played by John Leguizamo) with a list of targets. 

I'm not going to say that is a great movie by any stretch but, I was fully engaged while watching it. I like a lot of the actors involved, and the story is a serviceable thriller. I do think that the first half of the film is a bit better than the second. As it went along it seemed to lose focus and it all lead to a lackluster conclusion. The film looks good and there is some slick cinematography but, the writing in my opinion is where this film suffers. The characters all felt pretty one dimensional and there's this odd recurring thing where anytime Patrick Wilson's character leaves a room, whoever he was talking to calls him an 'asshole'. Not to his face or in a confrontational way, they just kind of murmur it to themselves. Likewise, everyone keeps calling Ian McShane a 'dinosaur'. Sure, the man's in his 70's but, it just seems like lazy writing.

Overall, I thought The Hollow Point was pretty entertaining. It has it's problems and I wouldn't call it a 'must-see' but, it's alright.
2.5 out of 5.