Friday, January 14, 2011

7 Word Weekend Movie Review: The Green Hornet, The Dilemma, and Ron Howard can go away now


New Movie Releases Reviewed in 7 Words Each


A Somewhat Gentle Man (limited) - Seriously, all you're offering is Stellan Skarsgard?

The Dilemma - It's time to put Ron Howard down.

The Heart Specialist - Hey, only took five years to release.

Ong Bak 3 (limited) - Can't live up to the first two.

The Green Hornet - I am prepared to love it completely. 


Maybe it's the previews or maybe it's just me. Perhaps I've reached a stage in my life where the idea of a movie starring Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, and Queen Latifah, just doesn't hold the same draw it might have... oh, right, it never was a draw. I love Opie (seriously, I've watched The Andy Griffith Show enough to quote some episodes. Call it sad if you want, I call it awesome) and I love Ron Howard when he's on The Simpsons, but as a filmmaker... Yawn... zzzzzzz (that would be me falling asleep for the sarcastic impaired). All I know is that from frame one of the first preview I saw I was unimpressed.

For those of you who don't know the awesomeness that is ONG Bak 1 and 2- heck forget that, let's just say part 2, I suggest you go watch the trailer on youtube. Any film that features martial arts on elephants and wrestling crocodiles, has something right going for it. Unfortunately reviews for the third part have been very poor. The word I've heard used the most is "lifeless".

I have no idea what The Heart Specialist is and I don't really want to. The film was apparently released in 2006 to some festivals, and is now going wide... I've lived this long without it, I can wait till it catches me off guard one day when I'm sick and can't change a channel. 

I haven't really heard a lot of people voicing faith in The Green Hornet. Possibly because it's another superhero movie or because it's Seth Rogen or maybe because Bruce Lee won't be able to reprise his role as Kato. Sorry, folks but he's been dead awhile. I hear they tried to get Brandon Lee, but he didn't care to give it a shot (this tasteless joke brought to you by the letter M). Personally I love the old Green Hornet show, I've always enjoyed Rogen and the film is directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep) who should at the least make it interesting. Oh yeah, and it has Eward James Olmos in it. I defy you to suggest he's not a bonus to any film. Until it has disappointed me face to face, I shall expect awesomeness from it. 

Trailer:

End of trailer, doi.

The Other Guys (The Unrated Other Edition)On the staying in front, I finally got around to seeing The Other Guys and was pleasantly surprised. The Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg comedy sees the two of them as detectives waiting for their chance to shine. Ferrel plays a nerdy, weird guy who women oddly find irresistible (a running gag that manages to not overdo it). Wahlberg does what he does best, playing an angry grunt, and is the straight man to Ferrell's craziness. If for no other reason than the first fifteen minutes featuring The Rock and Samuel L Jackson, I would recommend it. The absolute brilliance they show in the beginning is comic gold. The weakness to the film is also one of its strengths. Adam McKay is the director and co-writer, which means you get a mix of weird jokes that are fantastic but also some that fall flat because they're just too out there (the difference between Anchorman and Stepbrothers). He also loves to let his leads improvise, which often just leaves spots that go on too long. Overall it's a fun film that parodies the action genre while still telling a story. Not for the kiddies though, I give it a 7 out of 10

Have a great weekend everyone!

26 comments:

  1. Color me pumped about the Green Hornet.

    Wow, The power of a TNR 7 Word combined with a kickin trailer, has me actually wanting to see the thing.

    I think I've seen one of the spider-man movies, or parts of it anyway, but other than that, super hero type movies don't even cross my radar.

    Way to go TS, you should be getting paid.

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  2. The Dilemma's also getty crappy reviews - think Howard has lost it.
    The Other Guys is in my NetFlix queue. Heard it was good, so thanks fo rthe confirmation. Have you seen Ferrell and Whlberg's Sports nation commercial? Hilarious!

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  3. The preview looks fun, but rogan always plays rogan. For most movies that is okay, because they write and cast for rogan. I am wary.

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  4. Queen Latifah and Kevin James are movie killers.

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  5. I can't stand watching Will Ferrell....and Vince Vaughn is starting to wear me thin, too. Mark Wahlberg, however, I've always loved. :)

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  6. Once again, I finish your post feeling like I don't see enough movies, and yet I still got your Brandon Lee joke. I'm not familiar with any of those movies, so my brain (with nothing else to do) just makes a sentence out of them:

    "The Heart Specialist faces The Dilemma of telling A Somewhat Gentle Man that he has a Green Hornet in his chest."

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  7. I am sooo excited about the green hornet! too bad it might be a while before I actually get out to see it

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  8. I have heard great things about the 'Green Hornet' from people who share the same movie sensibilities with me. I am totally prepared to leave my brain in the car and totally enjoy the hell out of this one. Usually I can take or leave Seth but I have hope in a goofy good time...in a theatre, that serves the best hotdogs in the city. OH YEH BABY

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  9. Until the staying in part there seemed to be an extra dose of snark (peaking with the letter M joke) - definitely dug it.

    Consistently my favorite. Though the monday comic is giving this guy a run.

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  10. Even Vince Vaughn have a challenging pee does not entice me. The Green Hornet will not live up to the original premise and I think Rogan will prove to have been mis-cast.

    Good news is...I have no intention of seeing any of these...not even when I am too sick to change the channel!

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  11. i appreciate michel gondry's work in film and advertising, so i will be checking out the green hornet regardless.

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  12. Little Opie was such a cute talent. Shame he's gone on to produce snoozers.
    xoRobyn

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  13. I thought the Green Hornet was a Bruce Lee remake. Honestly, if it's got connections to Bruce Lee and it's being directed by that dude (I loved both of those movies!) I'm willing to give it a shot. Seth just gives it the cherry in my opinion.

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  14. I agree bout your VV comment. He is hilarious.

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  15. I just saw The Dilemma tonight and it was pretty good. Different than what I expected, more drama that I would guess. The comedy was funny and the drama was intense. I'd give it 7 out of 10.

    What do you like Clint Howard better?

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  16. I liked the older Green Hornet...surely they could have found some Lee if they wanted...
    I liked Ron's movies and the background score is always nice...
    I remember Ong Bak...it gets recycled on the English/Hollywood movie channels out here...not too keen on that one...
    Nice to know there are some movies I can relate to...

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  17. I never grew up with the Green Hornet show, so the commercials and trailer just look abominable to me. I'll be last in line, but let us know if it is actually any good!

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  18. interesting mix review
    like it

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  19. I`m all geared up for The Green Hornet as well!

    It seems I`m the only person who didn`t like `The Other Guys". I just couldn't believe that they'd make Will Ferrel a detective, and I didn't like him in that role. Mark Wahlberg was the man as always, but Ferrel ruined it for me.

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  20. TS! I have missed you. Sorry I have note been around too much lately. Enjoyed the reviews!

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  21. I really like the idea of the Green Lantern and hope it measures up! To me, Will Ferrell is every bit as annoying as Chevy Chase. thanks for the reviews!

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  22. Enjoyed Rogen in Knocked Up, but the others were iffy; and now he's lost what credibility he had as a proud fat guy. He's dropped some pounds and been seen in hot outfits. Absolutely the last straw.

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