Author: CrazyMustang

In the comedy-adventure “Paul”, best friends Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Nick Frost) have saved for decades to take a sci-fi fan’s trip of a lifetime: a pilgrimage to America’s UFO heartland to track the legendary hot spots of extraterrestrial activity.  A close encounter with Paul derails their dream vacation, turning it into a road trip that will rock their universe forever. Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling plan to return Paul to his mothership in one piece, even while being hunted by federal agents and the fanatical father of Ruth Buggs (Kristen Wiig), a young woman whom they have accidentally kidnapped. The two sci-fi, comic-book loving jocks, or nerds as they are more commonly known, fight to help save an awesome little green man, Paul. Directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland) from a screenplay written by frequent collaborators Pegg & Frost, Paul co-stars an impressive comedic supporting lineup that includes Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, and Sigourney Waver.

 

“Paul” marks the first screenplay Pegg and his frequent co-star and close friend Nick Frost have written as partners after having worked together for 10 years. The collaboration is interesting because they slightly changed the dynamic of their characters in this film. In the other movies, Pegg played the main character and Frost is the sidekick. But this film is very much a doubleheader. If anything, Frost’s character, Clive, is slightly more dominant and confident, whereas Pegg’s character, Graeme, is a bit of a wallflower at first. Pegg and Frost have created smart, interesting characters and I find them really appealing as performers. Together, they have that special chemistry that is enjoyable to watch. I think it’s because they’re close friends and that they make each other laugh effortlessly. Just as “Shaun of the Dead” is about zombies and “Hot Fuzz” is about action movies, “Paul” is an homage to late ‘70s science-fiction films and the genre of science fictions in general.

 

Along with the human protagonists, Graeme and Clive, the crucial third member of the cast is, of course, Paul himself. Though his physical presence would ultimately be the work of CGI, his voice needed to be very human. I knew that the film would have never worked if Paul felt like a wholly CGI character; that would have immediately taken people out of the movie. Paul could have ended up looking as though he were plucked from some Saturday night SyFy crapfest, cinematic classic. The voice that was decided upon was Seth Rogen, one of America’s top comedy stars. Even though Paul crash landed on Earth decades ago, Rogen (with a little assistance, perhaps?) infuses the character with a world-weary, yet relaxed sensibility of a guy who contrasts well with his uptight fellow travelers. I liked the fact that Paul changes the people around him, and he doesn’t actually change that much himself during the course of the film. Graeme and Clive are incredibly nerdy, in their shell and very afraid to go after a girl or pursue their career aspirations. Paul is their Tony Robbins, coaching them through their ongoing adolescent phase.  Plus, these guys’ dreams come true and they meet an alien and he’s actually a fun guy to be around.

 

Hot on the trail of the trio is Special Agent Zoil (Bateman), who has the answers to many questions about Paul’s decades on Earth. Bateman’s fellow interplanetary bounty hunters are two odd underlings Bill Hader (Agent Haggard) and Joe Lo Truglio (Agent O’Reilly), the squeaky-voiced fucker from “I Love You, Man.”  The crime-busting duos are not the brightest guys, but they’re eager to please Agent Zoil. Kristen Wiig plays Ruth, a sheltered young woman who lives an isolated existence at an RV park with her dad. Ruth is the character who changes the most throughout the course of the story. It was interesting to watch Ruth have a bit of a breakdown when she sees Paul and realizes she has to question the world and everything she’s been taught to believe. It’s like finding out *Spoiler Alert* there’s no Santa Claus. Equally important is who plays Ruth’s Bible-thumping, gun-toting father, Moses Buggs. It’s veteran character actor John Carroll Lynch, known for being Drew Carey’s cross-dressing brother on “The Drew Carey Show.” Oh, yeah, he was also in “Fargo”, “Zodiac” and “Shutter Island”, but come on, how many of you know him from those fucking movies? Really? Anyway, Buggs is this sad, tyrannical, religious character, who takes after Graeme and Clive to get his daughter back.

 

“Paul” was a satire of science-fiction movies but, at the same time, honored everything in science-fiction movies. That’s a terrific accomplishment. Comic actors Jane Lynch (“Glee” fans, rejoice!) and Jeffrey Tambor were brought onto the production for key cameo roles as Pat Stevens, a saucy waitress at the Little A’Le’Inn, who serves up her share of homespun wisdom to Graeme and Clive as they go in search of alien revelations, and Tambor, as legendary sci-fi author Adam Shadowchild, the acerbic Comic-Con panelist (and fellow Nebulon Award winner) who serves as inspiration for Graeme and Clive’s latest work “Jelva, Alien Queen of the Varvak.”

 

Rounding out the principal team was legendary actress Sigourney Weaver. From the “Alien” series to “Avatar”, Sigourney Weaver has been a fan favorite of the genre for years. Her character remains mysterious until the end, although she clearly has very sour feelings about Paul. There’s no love lost between them.

 

The Pegg/Frost trilogy will no doubt be followed up by an even more well-received trilogy that has Pegg and Frost as little boys, then whiny teenagers, followed by cry-babyish badasses. Just kidding. Go see “Paul”. Glory to the gleeks! I mean geeks. Damn you Jane Lynch!

The Green Hornet makes his feature film debut and introduces the masked avenger to a new generation of fans. Seth Rogen wrote the screenplay with his partner, Evan Goldberg, an actor, writer and producer. This is not their first film together as writing partners, they have also written Pineapple Express and Superbad. The Green Hornet is presented in 3D, a decision that I don’t think is needed to fit perfectly into the story that Michel Gondry is telling. For those who didn’t know, he was the guy, who invented the ‘Matrix Time,’ he did it in a Smirnoff commercial years before they used the same technique in The Matrix. Gondry uses every tool, every trick of the camera, CGI, everything, to tell the story.

 

Gondry saw a way to take the framework of this big Hollywood movie and bring his original voice, look, and sound. I like to have people portrayed on the screen that have flaws, a sense of humor, maybe a bit of a loser at times. That’s what was appealing about this movie. When I go to see a movie, I want to see something I’ve never seen before, and if there’s a dude who’s come up with a lot of stuff I’ve never seen before, it’s Gondry.

 

 

Gondry shows the audience how Kato sees things through Kato-Vision. This point of view perspective would allow the audience to see how Kato’s brain takes in a threatening situation as it unfolds. When Kato‘s heart starts beating fast, time slows down for him and he assesses the danger.  Ever have the feeling in that moment between sleep and waking that you’ve suddenly solved the most complex problems in the world? That’s called hypnotic hallucination, and Kato can make himself go into that state at critical moments. The objects he’ll need in the fight are highlighted, and every character he’s going to take out is projected. He also has a special memory; he can recall immense amounts of data and map it all in his brain. Kato’s fighting is pretty impressive because he knows where everything is and he is going to use it. What’s more, when time slows down, Kato moves at super human speeds, quickly taking on multiple bad guys in the same frame in which they move in slow-motion. Kato-Vision adds to the audience experience by giving them the full impact of a fight sequence as well as the melodic beauty of martial arts. Sometimes you want to see everything happen in real time and see how good the person is. Other times you appreciate the movements, because you can see the reactions and how hard people are getting hit or falling in slow motion.

 

The whole of that Britt is an irresponsible idiot who’s trying to get his life together to do something worthwhile, and as an irresponsible idiot, Seth Rogen is quite good. He’s has perfected that role, so the Academy needs to reward him with the Oscar for Best Idiot in a Motion Picture. With the Green Hornet himself cast, the filmmaker turned to casting Kato. For that pivotal role, they turned to Asian pop star Jay Chou. Chou is one of Asia’s biggest stars, the King of Asian Pop, according to Time Magazine. Some Americans may not know his name yet, but they will. He has a star quality when he’s on screen that makes you think I want to watch this guy. The Green Hornet is the hero, but it’s Kato who does everything. That’s a great twist on the hero-sidekick thing, the sidekick is the real hero, but he gets no credit. They are from different backgrounds, but they are like brothers. Britt is the funny one; Kato is a little bit more serious.

 

 

Cameron Diaz brought the updated character of Britt Reid’s secretary, Lenore Case, to life. In the 1930s, Lenore Case was a woman ahead of her times. In 2011, Lenore is a woman of her times. She’s smarter than both Britt and Kato put together. Lenore is passionate about journalism and she’s obsessed with criminology and forensics. The only thing Lenore doesn’t know is that she’s the brains of the Green Hornet operation. She’s doing the research for Britt and Kato, feeding them information. The thing of the role is that Diaz is fine with what she’s given in this film, but they could have gotten any other woman to play this ‘great’ role.

 

 To play the Green Hornet’s nemesis, Chudnofsky, the filmmakers brought in Christoph Waltz, who had astonished everyone with his performance as Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds, a role which earned the actor an Academy Award.

 

 

In the “Green Hornet” television series, Bruce Lee made both himself and Kato international stars. Because of that, the filmmakers were aware that there would be certain expectations for Kato’s fight sequences. To me, the present day Kato had to follow Bruce Lee, but be better than Bruce Lee, or as good. In Jay Chou, the filmmakers found someone who understands body mechanics and he can captivate the screen. He’s got a great presence. In “The Green Hornet” movie, a lot of comedy is physical, and they approached the physical comedy by using things in the environment for things other than their intention. For example, in the Britt and Kato fight, they got a lot of physical comedy in there by using everyday item’s that are in Britt’s bungalow. I think that’s my favorite thing, the fight is gritty and mean, but funny at the same time. It’s very well orchestrated; they use everything in the room. It flies in every direction but it’s still very realistic. They maintain a good level of comedy during the action. Even when everything is blowing up around them, it’s fun to watch. But the story always comes first. The action, just like the comedy, must serve the story and the characters. You have to control how the fight escalates and how it tapers off so that in doing all this physical action, it still tells a story, just the same as dialogue. 

 

As far as my history of The Green Hornet, I’ll admit it’s not very strong. For all you newcomers out there don’t be ashamed of not knowing anything about The Green Hornet, because I’ll be learning and sharing with you a brief history of The Green Hornet. It first started off as a radio show in 1936, which lasted until 1952. Fourteen years later came the television show that I heard about, but never saw. But The Green Hornet I do know about is the Kevin Smith’s version, which was presented as a comic book. His take on The Green Hornet was not liked by the film company. Even though I enjoyed it more then the film that is out now, I’m not saying it’s a bad film.

 

 

If you have not seen Rogen and Goldberg other works, then be sure to check out this film. Think of this film as the 1960s Batman campy humor infused with incredible action scenes. 

 

But I’ll save you the time and money, with the fact that much of the movie was shot in 2D and then enhanced with 3D, so I see no reason to watch a movie in what I like to call ‘bullshit 3D.’ I’m not saying to not see the movie, I’m just telling you to save your $3-$5, depending where you live and use them on the extra pounds you’ll be getting from the snacks you buy.

127 Hours, by the Academy Award winning director of 2008’s Best Picture, Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle, is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston’s ordeal in saving himself after his arm is crashed by a falling boulder, trapping him in an isolated slot canyon in Utah. During his ordeal, Ralston remembers everyone he cares for back home and the two hikers he met before the accident. Over five days, or, count with me, 127 Hours, Ralston battles the elements and his own demons to find the courage to free himself.

 

 127 Hours is a visceral story that will take you on a thrilling journey never before experienced and show some of us what we may do when we pick life over death. Boyle gives the audience a groundbreaking first person cinematic experience will draw you in every emotionally-charged second, as Ralston goes from despair to recommitting to life, bringing him to do what any of us would believe impossible. He brings you into the canyon with Aron and doesn’t let you go until Aron himself is free. 

 

 

 

I think it was great how Boyle makes it feel as if the audience is Aron himself and you were doing and going through everything as if you were there. When you see this film, you’ll think that you don’t know if you can do what Ralston did or if you’d just die. Hell, I don’t even know if I can do what he did or even last as long; that’s just go to show you how strong-minded and strong-willed Aron was during those five days.  I won’t say how he freed himself because that would be spoiling it for those who don’t read a newspaper or watch the news, even though there is a book and it’s a true story. There is something that is best left to the imagination, but what I will say is that all the reports of people fainting, vomiting, and having seizures is fucking true. While I was at the screening of the film, one woman left at one point of the movie, while a man left not only once but fucking twice, the first time with his hand over his mouth getting ready to unload! I mean, if you left once already and you come back for more, you’ve got to have balls to stick it out, but to leave twice, don’t even come back.

 You will see Ralston experience a sudden realization of the full value of life in the canyon over those five days. You may even come away from the film feeling the same realization and evaluation of your life. The film gives the idea that he was never alone in the canyon. Physically, he was, but spiritually he was surrounded by everyone he knows and loves.

James Franco is quickly becoming one of this generation’s most original talents. Franco’s acting in this film is of equal importance to what Boyle has done with both actor and director creating a successful duet. Franco fully embraces the character infusing the film with a very unique and amazing performance. Franco was so good that it was as if the real Aron Ralston was in the film himself and was reliving his adventure all over again.

 

 I like that Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara as the two girls Aron meets at the start of his hike are funny and light in their performance, creating a soft and easygoing atmosphere at the beginning of the film Even though their moment with Aron is brief, their moment become important to Aron because they are his last real memories of human contact, of interacting and feeling alive. The scenes with Aaron’s family and friends turned out very beautifully. They have the quality that make you feel Aron’s desperate desire to get back to the world and the people he loves.

 

 

The film builds up to a release of the energy that has been building up throughout the movie. After you have been with Aron in his brutally realistic entrapment you can’t help but get this feeling of both escaping death and rejoining the world. This film did not only turn out to be full of great action, but of great beauty.

 

Let Me In is a haunting and provocative thriller written and directed by Matt Reeves, who’s best known for directing Cloverfield. The film is based on the best-selling Swedish novel Lat den Ratte Komma In (Let the Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist and the movie of the same name.

The cast includes Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chole Grace Moretz. Everyone will remember Chole Grace Moretz as the 11-year-old break-out star from Kick-Ass where she portrayed the foul-mouthed hero Hit Girl. The role landed her the title of “most likely to succeed ‘it girl’ from Teen Vogue. Here she trades in her mask, wig, weapons and her lovable foul-mouth that we all learned to love and adore for blood, fangs, supernatural ability and the love of puzzle solving.

 

 

Moretz plays Abby, a mysterious 12-year-old that is like no one has ever met before or should want to; but if you do, and you get on her bad side or even have the balls to mess with Owen (played by Kodi Smit-McPhee) in any way, then it was nice knowing you. Some would say that Moretz stole the scenes in Kick-Ass and I couldn’t agree more. Here she does a good job in sharing the spotlight with her co-star Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Kodi can be found alongside Viggo Mortensen as the son in the big-screen adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Road. In this film Kodi plays Owen a social outcast who is viciously bullied at school and has a fascination with serial killers, but then goes on to form a friendship with his new neighbor Abby. He can’t help but notice that Abby is different and comes to terms that his new friend is not as innocent as she seems.

  

 

Unlike the pop-culture phenomenon Twilight, Let Me In stands out as a different kind of vampire movie. It’s a coming-of-age story, as well as a haunting path from a hard and painful childhood into adolescence. Fans of the novel and film Let the Right One In will be happy to know that this film is faithful to much of the action even though the story was transported to a small town in the mountains of New Mexico. Audiences won’t be surprise by the supernatural elements of the story, but by how realistic the emotions were shown by the actors.

With the vampire fantasy put aside people might find something that they can relate to in the movie, such as the honesty of the emotions on display by the two child actors who bring their characters to life. But don’t make the mistake in thinking that is just about vampires, because it’s more then that. It’s about being alienated and what anyone one of us would do and how far anyone of us to go to feel love.

  

 

With Owen being the son of a single mom who loves to drink her problems away and herself to sleep, it wasn’t hard to see how and why he acts the way he does or does the things he does. Can you blame the kid? I sure hell don’t, poor little bastard. Owen finds in Abby what he couldn’t in his drunken mom or anyone around him, a friend who he could talk to and someone who would listen to him. As well as someone that could give him advice. So don’t worry mom, this bloodsucking vampire has this covered, so you go back and not be there for your son.

In contrast, the relationship between Abby and the father is a close one, so close, in fact, that he loves her enough to … well, I won’t spoil it here, but he really is a loving father.

 

Here what didn’t work for me: Nothing! Here’s why: Reeves does such a good job in telling the story that you may even find yourself relating to some of Abby’s and Owen’s experiences that may remind you of your childhood experiences at school and at home.

Unlike these so-called vampire movies with glitter and shit, you know who I’m talking about, (fucking Twilight) I finally saw a movie I could enjoy because it was a vampire film for non-screaming non-girl vampire fans. And what was great was they were able to have the right amount of gruesome scenes and love story without going overboard to ruin the movie.

 So when Let Me In asks you if it can come in, say yes, because this movie will entertain and emotionally affect you.