Michael Bay’s first movie, Bad Boys, opened worldwide in 1995, introducing audiences to his style of flashily frenetic editing and deafening explosions, matched with awesomely moronic storytelling and dialogue. His brand of making louder, thrilling and infinitely stupid action movies was marked from the beginning. Meanwhile, at around the same time, a horrific crime was … [Read more...] about PAIN AND GAIN New Movie Review
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Oblivion New Movie Review
It’s the year 2077 and Earth is just barely surviving. In the aftermath of wars, viruses and the destruction of the moon, the planet still stands but most of its most famous monuments are rubble. Keeping an eye on the planet’s survivors and blasting away the “scavs” who defiantly attack is Jack Harper (played by Tom Cruise), who describes himself as “Earth’s janitor.” He lives … [Read more...] about Oblivion New Movie Review
42 New Movie Review
It's hard to believe there's never been a movie made about Jackie Robinson, outside of The Jackie Robinson Story from 1950. That movie at least had the great baseball Hall of Famer playing himself. But Robinson's life, a remarkable journey of an African American who broke baseball's color barrier and played for the Montreal Royals and Brooklyn Dodgers, is long overdue for a … [Read more...] about 42 New Movie Review
Jurassic Park 3D New Movie Review
One of the great thrills of my childhood happened in 1994, when I met film critic Roger Ebert at the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center. He was at the Waldenbooks (RIP), signing copies of his Roger Ebert’s Movie Glossary. I had been a fan of his my entire life and was thrilled to have a few moments to speak with him. I thanked him for coining the term “The Bruised Forearm Movie,” in which … [Read more...] about Jurassic Park 3D New Movie Review
GI Joe Retaliation New Movie Review
A year ago, I encountered a shelf of talking Dwayne Johnson G.I. Joe Retaliation dolls in Toys R Us. The Roadblock doll, named after Johnson’s character and large enough to be considered a doll and not an action figure, uttered macho phrases from the movie after pressing on its chest (or, more specifically, the doll’s replication of Johnson’s awesome pectorals). It was pretty … [Read more...] about GI Joe Retaliation New Movie Review