Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Tron: Legacy
Not As Bad As You'd Think


Tron Legacy is the sequel taking place 28 years after the original. There have been a lot of bad reviews. Mostly from nerd websites. They argue about every little detail. In reality, this is a summer blockbuster released at Christmas. But I would like to thank those critics, because they lowered the expectations enough that I could enjoy the movie.

The biggest problem with this movie is the Uncanny Valley issue. Having a digital version of a younger Jeff Bridges would be fine if it was only in the computer world. But they open with him digitally younger too. So right off the bat, you're taken out of the movie. Starring at this creepy wax face.

But once we get into "the Grid" things move at a brisk pace. There are the familiar settings. Light bike races. Escaping to outside the grid. Fighting back. It's all enjoyable. It looks cool. I didn't really feel there were any cringe worthy parts. Hey, it's much better than the original (although not that much, I guess, since it is bad).

Tron Legacy does suffer from recent film issues of "setting up the series". There are a lot of loose threads. Lines of dialog and characters that are introduced and forgotten. You know they're leaving a lot doors open so they don't have to wait another 28 years to make a sequel.

Did you enjoy it?
I did.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Possibly.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
Eh. Maybe if I had a 3D television.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
But of course.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale


Just in time for the holidays comes a unique Christmas movie about the origins of Santa. From Finland. With subtitles. Oh yeah, you're excited. This movie is a fun spin on the real tale of Santa Claus. FYI, he's buried in Europe. A financier funds an expedition to get Santa dug up. A small town witnesses the results. That's all I can say about the movie.






It's not that scary. It's not really gory. It is played serious, not campy. And it is a lot of fun. You can tell it's done on a budget. The ending really makes the film. What I can say is that it is a lot of fun. It is opening in selected theaters on Christmas Eve. Think Gremlins, if you're looking for the tone of the film.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

 Would you see it in theaters again?
Maybe. Our family is looking for a movie to go to on Christmas.

 Would you buy it?
No, but I may put it in your stocking.

 Would you rent it?
Maybe next Christmas.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Faster


Oh boy. You know this movie is going to live upto it's name when you see Dwayne Johnson (formerly known as The Rock, but finally able to lose his moniker) pacing in his cell room. No one in the main cast gets names (except Carla Gugino for some reason). You get names like "Driver" and "Cop" and "Killer". Smart stuff.

He is getting revenge for some people killing his brother. The end.

Did you enjoy it?
Eh. As part of a double feature, sure.

Would you see it in theaters again?
No.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Probably.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Megamind (in the 3rd dimension)


I have really been slacking on my feature films. But I got around to seeing Megamind the other day. It's pretty cute. The plot is interesting and somewhat original. What if the Super Villain won? Then what?

It looks good. It has 3D. I think all cartoons should be in 3D from now on. The story sags in the middle. They didn't really know what to do beyond the premise and outline.

Sadly, not a lot more to say about the movie. Same will be true for my next review. Interesting that I saw them both in the same night.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
No.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

My Pharmacist


In case you didn't know, I spent the first couple years of college in Pharmacy school. During my time I roomed with a fellow Pharmacy student named Dirk. Imagine my surprise to find him on WGN this morning educating me of the dangers of accurate children's dosage.

Congrats, Dirk.

http://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/881ce4d4-739d-44e7-bbcb-507d55d832b8/Health/Medical-Watch-Proper-dosage-for-children

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Friday, November 26, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving, Start Your Shopping

For those of you buying into this Black Friday nonsense, here are a couple of hints for what to get your loved one.




The limited edition 2 disc set of the Krull soundtrack
http://www.lalalandrecords.com/Krull.html





But seriously, now that we've got the jokes out of the way:
http://www.amazon.com/MP3-Music-Download/b/ref=sa_menu_dmusic1?ie=UTF8&node=163856011

Today they have the new Arcade Fire album, new Weezer and Big Boi all for $1.99 digital MP3. Stop stealing music, because at 2 bucks, these albums are a steal. Please to enjoy.

Happy Holidays!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

She Said Yes


Krull Nugget would like to welcome their new temporary sister website:

Emilee and Jeff

All made possible because she said "yes"!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Harry Potter 7.1



Seen the other six movies?
Remember when the guy from Twilight got killed in Goblet of Fire?
Is it still for kids? Not really. Young adults and people like me.
It's good. If you haven't seen the others, don't go. If you have, why are you even on K.Nugs? GOGOGO!


Did you enjoy it?
Yeppers.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Probably will. Possibly IMAX.

Would you buy it?
Waiting for all of them to be released in a blu-ray box set.

Would you rent it?
Eh.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Sure.

One Thumb Up for 127 Hours


There are two ways this can turn out (and no, I am not talking about Aron Rolston getting out of his mess, I mean the movie itself). When you have one person on screen for the majority of the time, it can bore you to death, or it can captivate you. Luckily, Danny Boyle does a great job of keeping us interested, sympathetic and hopeful.

Now, even though this story is real and from seven years ago, I'm not going to spoil it. I can say that it is really good. There are some neat camera angles that go from claustrophobic to desolate and lonely. There are some neat shots. James Franco does an amazing job. Of course the movie rests on his shoulders and he bares the burden with ease.

Seeing the trailers and already knowing the story, I was curious, but not necessarily going to run out and see it opening weekend. If I hadn't gotten into the screening, I'm not sure what would have eventually gotten my butt into a seat. Hopefully I can convince you to not make the mistake I almost made. It's better than anything else that is out right now and probably will be out until around Christmas. You definitely need to have a somewhat strong stomach, but isn't as graphic as you may have heard. There are rampant rumours of fainting in screenings. You should be fine, but be warned.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Maybe.

Would you buy it?
No. Not one to go on repeat DVD play.

Would you rent it?
Sure. Maybe see the behind the scene prosthetics.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Possibly.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

(insert Oasis lyrics) Morning Glory


I guess I should start off by saying I need to stop being surprised by things. I should stop thinking that trailers are nothing more than marketing tools to get butts in seats. I should stop thinking I am going to see something new plotwise. I should stop being surprised that Rachel McAdams has a terrific fanny.

That being said, I was surprised to see Harrison Ford in this cast list. He picks bad scripts, so why should this movie be any different? Because it was produced by the man who wrote Regarding Henry? Maybe.

So, in a nutshell, the first two acts of this movie have some refreshing ideas on the career woman genre. Then we get to the last act and things get messy. We have quick cuts in time that take a moment for the audience to follow (at least my audience of two). It's pretty funny. Phil from Modern Family gets a piece to change gears back to his old days of sleazy characters. Harrison Ford likes to growl his lines now. Diane Keaton has a thankless role that gets pretty much ignored in the back half of the movie. Very flawed film overall, but the entertainment value outweighs its lack of originality and focus.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Probably not.

Would you buy it? As a gift for someone else, maybe.

Would you rent it?
Is it a rainy Saturday?

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Sure.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Unstoppable (?) a.k.a. Speed 3:Express Train


I had two different people reply "You mean Speed on a train" when I told them I was going to see Unstoppable. They're not wrong. But you add the "Inspired by Real Events" and you have added another layer. None of which make this that much more watchable.

On another site, I posted some of my initial thoughts when the trailer came out. You can read them here: http://videogum.com/209481/raising-the-stakes-on-the-unstoppable-train/movies/trailer/#comment-7672692

None of my original speculation turned out to be true. This isn't "Man against Man". This is "Man against Machine / idiot conductor". My viewing partner was nerve wracked during the movie. I was just waiting for it to be over. Do you remember the Will Smith movie Enemy of the State? It is directed by the same guy. Since the movie doesn't really inspire me to write an actual review, let's compare Unstoppable and Enemy of the State, shall we?

Our Heroes
Enemy of the State - Will Smith and Gene Hackman
Unstoppable - Denzel Washington and Chris Pine

Do They Like Each Other at First? (rhetorical):
Enemy of the State - No.
Unstoppable - No.

Do They Come to Respect Each Other?
Enemy of the State - Shockingly, yes.
Unstoppable - Yeppers.

Is one of our heroes having marital troubles?
Enemy of the State - Will Smith, accused of banging some other broad (Denise from Cosby Show)
Unstoppable - Pine is jealous and made his wife flinch when asking her who she was texting (swear to God)


Actor from Mallrats:
Enemy of the State - Jason Lee
Unstoppable - Ethan Suplee


Does the movie have that slick Tony Scott color scheme?
Enemy of the State - Yes. A lot of muted tones.
Unstoppable - Except for the red truck and train board, but yeah it has the same visual look he always uses.

Who is the old guy full of sass?
Enemy of the State - The white guy (Hackman)
Unstoppable - The black guy (Washington)

What made them so sassy?
Enemy of the State - He used to develop spy tech, then got paranoid (justified).
Unstoppable - Forced retirement so he doesn't get full pension.


The movie is full of ridiculous characters (ponytail train welder) and even more outlandish dialog ("We're talking about a missle the size of the Chrysler Building"). Good stuff. My last prediction is that just like Enemy of the State, this movie will play on cable but will be one that you will forget about until someone at a party says "hey, remember that train movie with Denzel Washington, what was that called?". Until that day comes, keep on trucking.


Did you enjoy it?
Not really.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Not likely.

Would you buy it?
Not nearly.

Would you rent it?
Not conceivably.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Not possible.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Finally saw "The Town"




Ben Affleck's second directorial effort came out this year. The focus is again on his favorite town, Boston. It's another crime drama. But where Gone Baby Gone was a character study that got Amy Ryan an Oscar nomination, this one has lots of gunfighting. That's not a slight on Ben, but makes me think he has bigger aspirations than to just tell gripping yarns.

And you know what, as long as he doesn't follow in the increasingly crappy foot steps of his buddy Kevin Smith, that's fine with me. You can tell that Affleck has got some good people working behind the camera to help him tell his tales. This one is a tale of the good folks who populate Charleston area of Boston. They rob banks. They give some money to a florist (aka mob dude in their neighborhood).

But this is a movie with two tales to tell. The first trailer for the movie mentioned that it came from "The Acclaimed Director of Gone Baby Gone but never actually mentioned Ben Affleck by name. It also focused on the tale of the Bank Manager. But that's not entirely true. Although she does play a big part of the movie, I feel that she's not necessarily the main story, moreso she's the catalyst that drives the story.

But overall, it's a good crime drama with more action.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Nah.

Would you buy it?
I should pralle ditch this question, since its unlikely that I will be increasing my collection anymore with this thing called the internet.

Would you rent it?
Sure. Netflix Instant?

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes. Yes, I would.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Todd has a Cause

Todd is doing his part to get Prop 19 passed. Please enjoy.
**FYI, the legislation didn't pass**

Friday, October 29, 2010

Halloween: You Never Know What to Go As...



Dressing up. Getting candy. Scary movies. 
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Due Date


Earlier this year when we got our first trailer for Due Date I was oddly unaffected. Is this supposed to be a comedy? I didn't laugh once. Then I thought, hopefully they're saving all the good stuff for the film itself. Turns out, not true.

You would think that they'd be able to rest a lot of the heavy lifting on their main leads. Robert Downey Jr. has come back from his drug years to due his best acting work. He could do this in his sleep. Zach Galifianakis killed it in The Hangover, so there should be some left in the tank.

The problem is the script. You're supposed to relate and / or sympathize with these two guys. One is amazingly unlikable. The other is impossibly clueless. It is just scene after scene of flat moments. Now that doesn't mean there are no laughs. But you need to hit a certain ratio when it comes to a comedy, and I remember being the only one laughing a few times. When I wasn't laughing, you know you're in trouble.

Did you enjoy it?
Mildly. I'm glad I saw it for free.

Would you see it in theaters again?
No. One and done.

Would you buy it?
Ooooh the inevitable 'Unrated Version'! No.

Would you rent it?
Nah.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Eh. If there was literally nothing else on, possibly. Give it a second chance.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Modern Family Challenge: Part Four, Disc Four

Last disc. How'd we do? I will admit it is genuinely funny network show. It does have its cliched moments but never goes too overboard. The fourth disc had a lot of misunderstandings (Little Phil's birthday at the batting cages, Phil's dad is sad because he's giving the dog away, Manny is on the "no fly list") but again, they add those because people expect it but they don't overdo it, in my opinion.

So, I will officially take this time to redact my statement about how terrible Modern Family is comedy wise. Challenge complete. Now, what's next? Big Bang Theory? Two & A Half Men (still the number one comedy in America!)? Not sure I'm ready for that yet...

Friday, October 22, 2010

Chicago International Film Festival 2010

The Chicago International Film Festival is over. I had the chance to catch four films this year. Overall, I thought it was an okay year. I noticed a lot more mainstream American films in the mix, which makes me a little sad. When "RED" is playing, you know they're trying to get more people to attend. That being said, there were some good films. A Somewhat Gentle Man won the 2nd place jury prize.


 The Myth of the American Sleepover

Set to a backdrop of a few different sleepovers the last few days before school starts, this movie feels more like a patchwork of ideas, than a fully formed movie. It definitely reminded me of my junior high and high school days. But it meanders from plot to plot and character to character. With another pass at the script this could have been a something special.

Did you enjoy it?
Moreso, that it let me think back to my juvenile days.
Would you see it in theaters again? No.
Would you buy it? No.
Would you rent it? Probably not.
Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV? No.




En Ganske Snill Mann (A Somewhat Gentle Man)

Set in my ancestral land of Norway, this film stars Stellan Skarsgard as a recently paroled convict. He sets off to reconnect with the family he left behind and settle the score with the man who put him in jail. The tone flows from drama to comedy with somewhat ease. Of the films listed here, this one was my favorite.

Did you enjoy it? Yes.
Would you see it in theaters again? Probably Not.
Would you buy it? No.
Would you rent it? Maybe.
Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV? Sure.




Trust

This one is most likely to play at the Landmark Century on Clark Street. Its independent, but has a couple of stars as the parents (Catherine Keener & Clive Owen). It's the story of a girl who meets someone on the internet that turns out to be not who they said they were. I know, I know. How cliche! But the movie is handled very well and at times I thought it was going to go off the rails but reigned itself in. Not wholly satisfying in a Hollywood way, there are a lot of things left unresolved, just like in real life.

Did you enjoy it? Yes.
Would you see it in theaters again? No.
Would you buy it? No.
Would you rent it? No.
Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV? No, the subject matter is really not set up for repeat viewing. Unless you're "that" guy.



 
Cameraman: Life and Work of Jack Cardiff

This documentary about a cameraman who grew up shooting films in the golden age of cinema. It's one part historical, one part technical, and one part portrait of a man. Because of his age, they had only a few talking heads that would have worked with him directly, but a lot of people who grew up appreciating his work (Martin Scorcese) talk about his influence.

Did you enjoy it? Yes.
Would you see it in theaters again? No.
Would you buy it? No. But I might buy some of the movies he shot.
Would you rent it? No.
Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV? Maybe in passing.



And that's a wrap. See you next year.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Modern Family Challenge: Part Three, Disc Three


And now we take a turn for the worse with disc three. There are two more episodes that I saw on the original run of the series. I'm talking about Fifteen Percent, where Mitchell convinces Jay that Shorty (guest star Chaz Palmeteri) is gay. Oh the predictament. And the worst offender My Funky Valentine. Remember that one time in your life where everyone you know saw you when your jacket was caught on an escalator and you were naked underneath. Uproarious.

Truth Be Told, where Phil miscommunicates with his high school girlfriend would be damaging as well, if it weren't for Judy Greer, the Arrested Development alum. This episode most reminds me of that long forgotten series. Starry Night is the best of the disc. Jay telling Manny to razz Mitchell because that's what brothers do, was really funny and touching. Coming from a blended family I can relate.

Next disc has Game Changer, which will remind me of early adopter Lish, for sure.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes, but to a lesser degree than what has come before it.

TO BE CONCLUDED...

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Falling on Our Swords Tonight


Band of Horses returned to Chicago on Tuesday night. The sloppy southern fried rockers started the show by performing a couple songs on one of the side balconies. It was Ben and the newest back up singer in the rotation also playing guitar. It was pretty great. Then then got down to the main stage. Guitar and monitor trouble persisted. They powered through the best they could.

The most shocking thing about the whole night was when Ben lit up a cigarette and smoked during one of his songs. How weird is it that in today's climate, that is considered an act of rebellion?

As they add more songs to their repertoire they have to cut some others from the setlist. Sadly, I did not get my pick to click, Our Swords. But they did cover Cee Lo's GEORGIA. That was the final song in the encore. Here is the setlist:

Balcony Acoustic:
Evening Kitchen
No One's Gonna Love You

Full Band on Stage:
Compliments
Cigarettes, Wedding Bands
Factory
Marry Song
Laredo
The Great Salt Lake
NW Apt.
Islands on the Coast
Blue Beard
The General Specific
Older
Part One
Weed Party
Is There A Ghost? (he said it's about his ice maker)
Wicked Gil
Ode to LRC
Funeral

Encore:
The First Song
Georgia


Did you enjoy it?
Yes.
Would you see them in concert again?
Yes.
Would you buy their album?
Yes.

Friday, October 15, 2010

We Don't Need Roads



In honor of the Back to the Future 25th Anniversary release on blu-ray, it is in select theaters for two shows.
It is on the cover of E. Weekly this week.

There is a reunion on the Scream Awards with Michael J. Fox and Leah Thompson. 

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Modern Family Challenge: Part Two / Disc Two


And we're back. Next disc. Another episode I had seen during the original run of the first season. "En Garde" is the episode where Manny fences versus a girl. I am beginning to believe it was just rotten luck that every thing I had seen from this show were the worst moments. Oh man, you mean not only is Manny fencing a girl, but she's an orphan and her friends are all in wheelchairs. The height of comedy.

But then we get to their biggest coup, Ed Norton guest stars. Not only that, but he plays the bassist for Spandau Ballet. In an episode that could have been another bad "misunderstanding" where Claire can't get gifts for her husband, it ends up being played well. She tries but can't. He admits she can't. That's it. Nothing gets too over the top. Plus, Elizabeth Banks as an adult baby. Kudos.

Then we come to Fizbo and Undeck the halls. A little more outlandish, but still pretty funny. At this point, I will watch future episodes in future seasons, but most likely I will rent the DVDs.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Again? Is this show in theaters?

Would you buy it?
Nah.

Would you rent it?
How do you think I'm watching all these episodes?

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Reruns. Maybe.

Monday, October 11, 2010

RED (Retired, Extremely Dangerous)


When we start our film. Frank Moses is living a quiet life of retirement. He calls a women who works at processing his retirement checks. Then one day some people come to kill him. They are unsuccessful. Thus, our adventure begins.

The good thing about the movie is its about retired people and how they transition from a life of action to a life of quiet solitude. They all handle it differently but none of them handle it well. It was originally a DC Comic and the transition to film was pretty seamless.

The best thing the movie does is stack the film with some great actors. Bruce, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker,  Brian Cox and Karl Urban (oh, and Ernest Borgnine). Did I mention Richard Dreyfuss? Man, I am out of breath. Great cast. All bringing their A-game.

This movie is right in my wheel house. Comedy and action. It has the perfect blend of both. If you're looking for some fun you can't miss.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Maybe.

Would you buy it?
Possibly.

Would you rent it?
Yes.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Modern Family Challenge: Part One / Disc One


First disc completed. Okay, so looking back over the pilot episode. I remember watching it and realizing they wanted to be slightly clever by showcasing three families and not really having them overlap. So the last scene you realize that the "Modern Family" are all one big family. A clever conceit that luckily wasn't overt or too much of the focus. After that we get into the season. When the show originally aired last season I watched about the first three and then stopped. So, this was already worn territory. And in hindsight, they aren't the strongest. I preach "sticking with" shows. The first season is usually the weakest. It does take some time to get in a rhythm. I remember giving up on 30 Rock after about 4 episodes when it first aired but luckily I went back over some reruns and caught the rest of the season.

On this viewing, I will remove my complaint about it being too much about miscommunication. You could see where I would get that from. The cream puff incident on the plane. Oh you meant real cream puffs. The stolen bike. Why not just ask your son? The hot neighbor. Classic Phil? But, to be fair, those are few and far between.

But that being said, there still aren't a ton of laugh out loud moments. I do concur that it is a funny show, but I'm not sure it's always funny "Ha Ha". There's also something I realize about this show and why people love it. It's relatable. Most of my friends are married. Most have kids. They can relate to Phil & Claire. Or the baby situations with Cam & Mitch. In one way or another, they know these people and situations.

That's why I would relate more to Community, which a lot of Modern Family fans hate. If you can't relate to a thirty-something man child with no feelings who hangs out with a guy who relates to the world via the movies and TV shows he grew up watching, then you should count yourself lucky. I am surprised any women like Community. They don't have a surrogate female character.

But this is about Modern Family. I'm still unconvinced that its worth my time or DVR space, I am getting there. One disc down, two to go.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
Already have.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Not yet.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The American


The American came out to some fanfare in September. It seemed released too early to be considered for an Oscar. It was released too late to be a summer tentpole. September is notorious for dumping your movies you can't market to audiences. That doesn't necessarily mean you have a bad film. It just means you don't know what to do with it.

What we have here is a movie about a real life James Bond. He's an assassain. It's not glamourous. It's lonely. It's quiet. You work and you wait. And that's what you get in this movie. A lot of short sentences. Quiet contemplation on screen. There is some action, but mostly it's the moments in between. Mole described it as a romantic In Bruge. I would consider it a quiet 007 movie. If you take both of those into consideration, you have a pretty good idea about what the movie is.

That's not a knock on the film. I think it is fantastic. I think Mole enjoyed it to a lesser extent that I did. But I would highly recommend it. What we both agreed on was that it isn't going to try and give you big twists. You might be looking for them, but it is straightfoward. Which in itself is a twist. Nowadays you are always looking for the rug to be pulled out from under you. To not have that happen actually makes for an interesting twist. (How telling is it that a movie that doesn't have a surprise ending actually IS the surprise).

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
You'd be hard pressed to find it still playing, but I wouldn't go again.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
Sure. And if you didn't see it, you should too.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Eh. It'd be a good nap movie, but probably not great for repeat viewing (except for the skin...).

Monday, October 4, 2010

The Social Network


I'm too old for Facebook. Yes, my ninety year old grandmother has a Facebook page. I say that "I'm too old" in reference only to the fact that I wasn't in on the ground floor. It was for college students long after I was out of college. Yes, I have a Facebook page. I deleted it for a while, then had to create a new one. Not because I was missing all the online fun. But when your whole family lives in another state, you sometimes want to know what is going on with them. And Facebook is really the easiest way for someone who doesn't want to pick up the phone (who does that anymore?).

What got me interested in this movie were two men: Aaron Sorkin (Qs) and David Fincher (Alien3). One of the best writers currently working and one of the best directors around getting together to tell the seedy tale of  the creation of Facebook. If they thought there was something interesting there, then so do I.

...And there is. Recently, my roommate and I were watching "The Soloist". When it was done, she said it was kind of boring because nothing really happens. I told her it was based on a true story. Sometimes in life nothing happens. And then sometimes you get sued for millions and millions of dollars for creating a website that everyone in almost every country has heard of.

Based on the biography "The Accidental Billionaires" the story is told in flashbacks during two different depositions. Both of them involve Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) the founder of "The Facebook". The movie is highly entertaining. It might be considered a little long for some and others might be thrown off by all the technical talk (APACHE server, anyone?). But if you can handle that, then are left with a story of a socially awkward teenage genius.


Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Yes.

Would you buy it?
No. I think there are few DVDs worth purchasing anymore.

Would you rent it?
Yes.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Modern Family Challenge: Preface


Modern Family: Season 1: Disc 1 arrived in the mail yesterday. This weekend, let the games begin.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Summer Round Up


Well, summer is over officially. That means let's go over lessons learned.

Biggest Disappointment:
Iron Man 2
-Bigger and louder doesn't necessarily mean better.

Weirdest (yet entertaining):
Splice
-WTF

Biggest Bomb filled with laughs:
MacGruber

Biggest Bomb with no laughs:
Dinner for Schmucks

Best 80's Throwback:
The A-Team

Worst 80's Throwback:
The Expendables

Best Animated:
Toy Story 3

Best Snooty Picture (hype machine):
Inception

Worst live action version of cartoon:
Last Airbender

Worst 3D:
Last Airbender

Best use of 3D:
Piranha 3D

Most Surprising:
Salt

Funnest:
Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Funniest:
Going the Distance


Let's get some Oscar Bait pictures rolling to wash this crappy summer season down.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Mitch and Beth



Didn't we just attend a wedding like a week or two ago? Well, here we go again. Outside, no less!

It was beautiful. Congrats, guys!

(For those of you unable to attend, here is some of the action)
Wedding Party
The Blushing Bride

...And this gem for old time's sake...

Friday, September 17, 2010

Easy A is Finally in School



I feel like I saw this movie months ago. Well, its finally out.
Check out the K.Nug review if you need a refresher.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Fourty Different Shades of Black

* photo by Lisa Hammond

Another week, another Pavement show. The band I only saw once in 1995, I have now seen twice in the span of a few months. But last night's show was not a festival set. It was 2 hours of indie rock by the Godfathers themselves. Under the stars at Millenium Park's Pritzker Pavilion, Steve said it was weird to be playing there, but I thought it was the perfect setting.

They gave a tour through all their albums (with Terror Twilight getting the step child treatment again). A double encore with everyone's picks to click getting played, it was a great night.

To quote the band, "See ya in 10 years!"


Set List:
Silent Kit
Date with IKEA
Angel Carver Blues / Heckler Spray
In the Mouth of a Desert
Grounded
Starlings of the Slipstream
Gold Soundz
Father to a Sister of a Thought
Unfair
Perfume-V
We Dance
Cut Your Hair
Frontwards
Stop Breathin
Trigger Cut
Fight This Generation
Shady Lane
Lions (Linden)
Here
Stereo
Elevate Me Later
Rattled by the Rush

ENCORE
Spit on a Stranger
Conduit for Sale
Shoot the Singer
Fin

2ND ENCORE
Box Elder
Kennel District
Range Life

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

2011 Krull Wedding



Settle down, no there are no wedding plans at this time. But this got me thinking...

Krull Wedding!

Jackpot.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Congrats to Mark and Mary

Mark and Mary Mullen really know how to throw a party! Thanks again, guys. Have a great time in Italy!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

He Getta Marrayed




Saturday he loses his manhood. Congrats!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Piranha 3DD and Three Word Review





Boobs and Blood.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

The Other Guys


The Other Guys is the latest comedy by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell. This time Will Ferrell is less bafoonish and more clueless. The person they pick to balance him off is Mark Wahlberg. I feel the shine is off Wahlberg. He was believable in The Departed but little else in years. He's passable here, but barely.

The joke is while the "Bruce Willis" type action cops are running around town, Wahlberg and Ferrell are doing paperwork and chasing permit issue developers. Then the movie gets turned on it's head and look out, they are the top cops. Crazy, I know.

It sounds like I am bashing it, but really, you know what you're getting. There are plenty of laughs. Will Ferrell does this in his sleep. I still hope he continues to branch out and do more stuff like Stranger Than Fiction (one of my favs).

If you're looking for a comedy right now, I would divert you from this to Going the Distance. But I won't say you're in bad company if you see it. You'll laugh at something (my guess would be the Jackson / Johnson rooftop pursuit of criminals).

Also, I have to give props for having Ice - T narrate. Genius.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes

Would you see it in theaters again?
Nah

Would you buy it?
Pralle not, maybe.

Would you rent it?
Sure

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Of course.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Expendables


The Expendables. The manliest movie of all time. Eh, just a second. Maybe not. Sure there are a lot of veiny juicers in this. Sure I can barely make out what Sly and Mickey Rouke and Dolph Lundgren and Jet Li say. It's funny when the limey brit has the clearest speech.

It is good to see Charisma Carpenter in a role. She's still looking good. But is that enough? Nope. Especially when she's not using her assets to make it a true 80's throwback film.

The Schwartzenegger, Stallone, Bruno scene. Pretty terrible. So rough. The plot itself is threadbare. We're badass, but we protect the little guy. We're super sensitive. Love us!

Stallone shoots the movie with that terrible frenetic action where you can't see anything. At least in RAMBO I could see him make those people into a sticky mess. Here everything is at night and quick cut. And I swear to God that he's running like an old man with a limp the entire time. It's so comical.

Glad I saw it, so I can say I have. Now let's never talk about it again.

Did you enjoy it?
Eh. Barely.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Nope.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
Probably not.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Nah

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Going the Distance (with director Q&A)


Charlie Day. Jason Sudekis. Third and fourth billing. That should tell you something. This is being billed as a romantic comedy. And it is, until the first time you hear Drew Barrymore start swearing like a sailor. Two people fall in love. Then they move to different cities. Blah blah blah. (FYI, Jim Gaffigan is here too).

This movie came out of nowhere. I give it the pleasant surprise of the summer. There have been only a few. August is usually a wasteland and we're turning it into the best month.

The movie is filthy. But it is also funny. And its grounded in somewhat real situations. It isn't all love an sunshine. They meet. They try to make it work. Does it work? Will they end up together? There are a couple moments where you have the "jealous/ is (s)he cheating on me" that gets turned on it's ear, which was funny.

Justin Long and Drew Barrymore were dating at the time(?). Regardless, they do have good chemistry. The only issue I have with the film is that they try a couple different camera styles and they're sort of jarring and take you out of the movie. They're used once and left in a trail of dust after that. If they have used it intermittenly then maybe it would be something, but they don't. So...

But as I said before, the supporting cast is what really makes this movie. I got a chance to ask the director after the screening how she got Charlie Day and Jason Sudekis in the movie, she said she just liked them. She also said that the movie was about 50% improvisational. And that really makes the difference. Most of the scenes have some great conversational improv. Let's get to my questions...
Did you enjoy it?
Yes

Would you see it in theaters again?
Yes

Would you buy it?
Maybe

Would you rent it?
Probably

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Totes Magotes

Monday, August 16, 2010

Iowa State Fair

*Yes, that is a cow made entirely made of butter


Nugs has been quiet. It's my busy season at work. But I got a quick vacation in last week. Went to the Iowa State Fair, went to a family reunion (280 folks, knew about 40). But we'll be up and back in full force soon.

Lots of good stuff coming up. Fall softball, weddings, more vacations.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Dinner For Schmucks

The poster says "From the Director of Meet the Parents". Does that tell you what kind of movie this is? I guess it would be closer to a fable? Is that right? In any real world situation, would you pretend to propose to your stalker only to have her smash your porsche in front of the restaraunt in the next scene?

A sad misuse of Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Jemaine Clement, et all. There are a tiny few amount of laughs. I saw this in a pretty packed theater and you could count the laughs in the movie on two hands. The "dinner" itself was fairly enjoyable but does start to drag on.

Since At the Movies ends its legendary run on TV next week I will steal their slogan and say "Skip It"!

Did you enjoy it?
Sort of. Not enough to pay for it.

Would you see it in theaters again?
No.

Would you buy it?
No.

Would you rent it?
No.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Eh, maybe if it was the last 20 minutes of the movie.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Michael Cera: Action Star



Michael Cera. Video games. Cartoons. Edgar Wright. If those four things have any interest for you, you'll love Scott Pilgrim Vs the World. Based on a comic I have never read, this movie went into production before the last two comics were released. Supposedly, the movie follows the first few issues in the series and then veers off in it's own direction.

Like the campy version of the Batman TV series, words pop up on screen as if having a life of their own. People do outrageous cartoony things. It starts slow with a few clever things here or there. But once we run into the first member of "the league" things really start hopping.

Does Michael Cera stretch his acting chops? Yes. But not in the way that you think. He still plays the mumbling quiet kid. But he also can fight. Since this is a cartoon I was able to believe that he could fight just as easily as I could believe he could jump out a five foot high window. If you're not sick of Michael Cera, you won't be pushed over the edge by this movie. He's the perfect fit for the role.

There are a lot of laughs here. Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) keeps a good pace while packing the movie with a lot of humor and action. These are things he can do in his sleep. Its funny that even with the action set pieces this movie feels small. Well, small is a bad word. It feels intimate.

Did you enjoy it?
Yes

Would you see it in theaters again?
Yes

Would you buy it?
Yes
Would you rent it?
Yes
Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes

Monday, August 2, 2010

Century Club: Success


You tell me if we had a good time...?







Friday, July 30, 2010

Century Club: The Distance


On Saturday, I will participate in a time honored tradition known as Century Club. The jist is you take one shot of beer every minute for 100 minutes. It has a more popular cousin called Power Hour (60 shots in 60 minutes).

In the many years I've done Century Club, I have only completed it without puking a handful of times. The first time I tried to do Century Club was in college. I had just eaten my dinner consisting of McDonald's double cheeseburger. Rookie mistake. I only last 29 shots (sorry, Kevin).

The first time I actually finished was the summer after freshman year of college. We were on the EX main house patio. In those ancient days you just had a clock. And every minute that ticked by someone would just shout "SHOT".

In later years we developed better technology to keep track of shots. We'd make cassette tapes of 1 minute clips of songs. Most cassettes are only 90 minutes, so I don't remember what we did to get the last 10 songs (start the tape over?).

Now, of course, you can crop songs from your iPod to only play for one minute. And you can have a long list for those manimals who can cruise past 100 shots.

It's also important to choose your beer wisely. Some say Busch Light. Others Miller. I'm a Bud man. I don't drink Bud Light as a rule, but I've learned that it's lack of taste can really help you cruise through those rough middle times during Century Club.

So, by midnight tomorrow, I will have consumed roughly 11 beers in under two hours. God help us all. Also, congrats, Mark.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

See Salt (pun intended)


Evelyn Salt was supposed to be "Edwin" Salt. It was going to be played by Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) but he felt the story was too close to Mission Impossible and did "Knight and Day" instead. I would like to thank him for that. Whatever you think of Tom Cruise or Angelina Jolie, I think they both made the right choices for material. Tom couldn't have handled the accents.

What I got out of this movie is a surprise. Genuine enjoyment and intrigue. The action is well paced and all done as practically as possible. At no point did I not think Angelina was on location doing her stunts (with the help of wirework, of course). Its refreshing to have actual stunts being done.

Although nothing to write home about, there are some good plot twists that keep your full attention. The biggest complaint I have about the movie are Angelina's wigs. But I can get past those. It brought back those great feelings about cold war movies from the 80's. Remember when James Bond had a good enemy to battle every couple years? I miss those days. This is getting my "Best Action Movie" of the summer and is in good contention for the year. But we also know what kind of year we've had...

Did you enjoy it?
Yes.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Nah.

Would you buy it?
Probably Not.

Would you rent it?
Yes.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
For sure.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Inception


Where to begin? If you've seen the commericals and trailers for the movie, you're wrong. You don't know the plot. It's clever advertising to get you in the door (if you were on the fence). From there it takes you in a whole other direction.

I will be damned if I'm going to spoil this for you. The closest comparsion I can give it is The Matrix. Now, to be clear, I'm not saying the plots are similar. The only tie they have is that they both deal with different states of consciousness and they both are game changers. What I am saying is this movie feels like how I felt about the original Matrix. I remember not knowing much about the Matrix when I saw in in April 1999. I also remember walking out of the theater thinking "well things are definitely different for me now, let's line up to see it again".

No, this movie has more in line with one of Christopher Nolan's earlier works, Memento. It's a movie that's a mind f#*k. But the thing about Inception is that no matter what you feel you just saw when the theater lights come up, you know you saw something good. Even if you can only enjoy it on the basic action level, you'll be satisfied. I don't want to heap on too much praise. It's already been getting a lot of backlash and it's only been out a week. I'm just thankful to have something with some weight to it released in theaters this year. We've been in short supply of that lately.

The only thing I will say about the plot (I'm going to see it in IMAX on Sunday to give it my second look) is that it simply lays its cards on the table for you to see and gives you a window to let you decide for yourself. This frustruates some people, but I think it lets you have your cake and eat it too.

Did you enjoy it?
Abso-Lutely.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Going to happen soon.

Would you buy it?
Sure.

Would you rent it?
Yes.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Yes.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Despicable Me


As a child, Gru wanted nothing more than some attention / affection from his mother. This developed into him becoming a villain. He's not the only one. There are so many villains that they have their own bank. There are so many villains that if you need a certain device to complete a diabolical scheme, you need to steal from other villains.

Gru needs a shrink ray to steal the moon. He's going to use adopted girls to do it. But plot isn't important. Neither is 3D (but based on 2D version, there is a lot of stuff coming at you). The voices are funny, the cast is good (Danny McBride is listed and I couldn't even tell you which character he plays).

Plenty entertaining kid fare. Take the family and stay occupied for 2 hours. I was disappointed at one joke. But not at the joke itself. I was disappointed in the audience. When he shrinks the moon they show a scene of surfers on waves as the waves stop and the ocean goes flat. I heard a lot of people audiably go "huh?". Really people? You don't know what affects the tides and waves? Come on.
Did you enjoy it?
Yes.
Would you see it in theaters again?
No.

Would you buy it?
Possibly for my unborn spawn.

Would you rent it?
More likely for myself.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Sure. Why not.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Wheeze. Hack. Cough.


Set List from Pavement's return to Chicago via Pitchfork Music Festival.

Cut Your Hair
In the Mouth of a Desert
Silent Kit
Kennel District
Shady Lane
Frontwards
Unfair
Grounded*
Debris Slide
Spit on a Stranger
Range Life
Perfume-V
Trigger Cut
Fin*
Stereo
Two States
Gold Soundz
Conduit for Sale
Stop Breathin
Here
The Hexx*

Pretty good set. They're still sloppy as they've always been. But in a good way. Fast and loose. That's how I like my rock and roll.

*Songs I recognized, but didn't remember the title until I got home and verified from 'the catalog'

Predators


I was looking for a Predators poster for my post. Google search came back with the mostly boring posters of the new movie, but also some from the first movie with Arnold Schwartzenegger. Not a lot of love for Danny Glover and part two. Instead I went with this funny tee shirt design. I was getting close to spending more time on the picture than I planned to spend on the review.

So, they want to reboot the Predator franchise. You might consider what they did a good start. Then again, you might not. First Predator movie, awesome. The second one, not as bad as everyone remembers. Especially if you compare it to the two miserable Alien v Predator movies. Let's ignore those for now.

The general mythology at is that Predators are hunters. They come to Earth to hunt dangerous men. If you don't have a weapon in your hand, they don't consider you a threat and leave you alone. In the first movie, they hunt a secret army killing squad. In the second one, they hunt drug dealer thugs and cops. In the new movie, they take all of what they consider the "worst killers" on Earth, and bring them to their "game preserve".

So, first issue. A hunter usually goes to their game's natural habitat to hunt. By bringing the people to you, it's like going to the zoo with a rifle. Even I can bag some big game there. It seems lazy. Okay, maybe these are training hunters. Not ready to go out and hunt on other planets. Eh.

So the movie has created a group of people to be picked off one by one. They all play nice and try to find out how to get off the planet (once the twist that they're not on their planet is shown, in case you missed all the commericals).

The movie kind of hits all the wrong notes. It tries to remind you of the old movies with easter eggs that mostly ring false. It doesn't seem like fans plugged these in, they were on a list somewhere. Please include skeletons with spines, skinned bodies, someone shirtless in mud, falling over a waterfall. Thank you.


Did you enjoy it?
Meh. After it was over I thanked my partner for enduring the film with me.

Would you see it in theaters again?
Only if it was running as a triple feature with part one and two.

Would you buy it?
Nerp.

Would you rent it?
Unlikely.

Would you watch it if you saw it was on TV?
Didn't I tell you I lost my free HBO last week?