I was introduced to this a few weeks ago by a colleague, and warning: it’s goofy/silly/dumb, but I laugh.
every.
time.
Hope you enjoy and happy Monday!
Click here for other Monday mix clips, and one warning, be sure to have your earbuds in, volume on medium/low for this one.
A couple things about Michael Bay’s new movie “Pain and Gain.”
PRO: Michael Bay FINALLY stops taking himself so seriously.
In one scene, crippled Tony Shalhoub (Monk from “Monk”) tries to pick a bun up off of the floor, insisting he “needs to do this on his own.”
It takes him a long time, and Bay’s choice of music: something sappy with violins.
It sounds simple and a little ridiculous, but I couldn’t stop laughing. Bay must’ve realized he can make fun of himself AND have fun.
Bro. Pass me the juice.
CON: Keep your expectations low.
“Pain and Gain” was awesome because I’ve don’t expect much from Michael Bay movies, and, that definitely heightened my experience.
PRO: The Rock.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays a born-again ex-con with a penchant for nose candy. He’s a gentle giant, and it totally works. The Rock really shows off his solid comedic timing (in this and “The Other Guys), and I really hope he keeps it up.
CON: It’s based on a true story.
Kinda wish I hadn’t known that before I saw this movie. It get pretty violent, and I couldn’t help feeling horrible for the real-life victims. I eventually eased up and that’s thanks to next up on my list.
PRO: Tony Shalhoub.
I’ve never seen “Monk,” but I’m gonna check it out now. Tony Shalhoub is insanely funny. All of my favorite scenes were with him. (I almost hate to say this about a Michael Bay movie, but) I’ve never laughed so hard at anything that wasn’t a Dave Chappelle sketch. And Shalhoub had a LOT to do with that.
More pros than cons. And, I feel a little gross for saying this, but Michael Bay kinda hit it out of the park with this one. It’s definitely worth seeing.
Check out Herald movie columnist Tim Albrecht’s take on Pain & Gain. http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/262621/group/Accent/
Watch this week’s Screen Time. Tim and I duke it out over “The Crowe.” http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/262560/
Ok, this is totally late, but here’s a shorty that’s sure to make any animal lover smile. Hope you enjoy and happy Monday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehacsv46ZIU
Click here to view other Monday mix posts.
I was just introduced to this over the weekend. Even if you’ve already seen it, it’ll still make you smile. (I’ve watched it twice today.) It features a kid, a football and a pep talk that you won’t soon forget.
Hope you enjoy and happy Monday! Click here for other Monday mix posts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o
Bonus: Kid President meets the President
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=TssZ9Uma1-w&feature=fvwp
I saw “The Place Beyond the Pines” and walked outta the theater thinking: “That was the best movie I’ve seen this year.”
I don’t want to give too much away, so here are some spoiler-free bullet points.
Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and some baby in “The Place Beyond the Pines.”
The key to watching a remake is going in with low to no expectations.
I learned this the hard way when I went to the new “Evil Dead.” Before the opening credits, I tweeted: “This better be as good as the original!” And I meant it.
Wrong move. I ruined the whole movie for myself.
Digital effects and gore replaced the charming campiness of the original. And, I was more than disappointed Bruce Campbell didn’t have a cameo, but “Evil Dead” did have a fair cast of characters.
The dude from “Red Riding Hood” (Shiloh Fernandez) does his best to look dreamy in a high-stress situation. The guy who reads from the flesh-covered Necronomicon (Lou Taylor Pucci) is like Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards: no matter how many near-death experiences, he “never” dies. And Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) seems to come out of nowhere for the bread slicer scene.
BLOOD BATH: The best ‘don’t do drugs’ ad ever
But, when I think about the other horror remakes I’ve seen, “Evil Dead” is pretty solid, and it doesn’t even make my list of the Top 5 worst horror movie remakes:
5. “Psycho” (1998): Who woulda thought the Norman Bates from this 1998 remake of an Alfred Hitchock masterpiece would later become a comedy star (Vince Vaughn). Even under the direction of Gus Van Sant, even in color, even with modern stars, it didn’t work as well as the original. There were some average performances, but the film begs the question of all remakes: WHY??
4. “Fright Night” (2011): Ok, Colin Farrell’s a looker, but that doesn’t make up for this remake of the 1985 original. They did do a good job of modernizing it. “Superbad’s” Fogle makes an appearance as the best friend turned vamp, the all-knowing go-to of The Undead is a Vegas spectacle, and they swapped grassroots makeup effects for digital in the most iconic “mouth-gaping” scene of the movie. Downer, but still watchable. On the plus side: Toni Collette and Anton Yelchin totally worked.
3. “Nightmare on Elm Street” (2010): I might just have a thing for Rooney Mara because I liked this more than I should’ve. The Freddy Krueger of my youth was domineering, creepfactor 15 and he kills Johnny Depp in waterbeds. Maybe they cast Jackie Earle Haley cause he’s kinda Freddy-freaky without makeup, but his parlor trick (making sparks with his knife hand) got old real fast. And his victims were always taller than him. #NotFreddyCaliberScary
Don’t play with matches, kiddies. Love, Freddy.
2. “The Omen” (2006): Liev Schrieber ain’t got nothing on Gregory Peck, and Julia Stiles was so dry as Damien’s mother, I wasn’t upset when he pushed her over the railing because that meant her screen time was over. And the evil nanny scene from the original, shot up close with low lighting for effect … why would you want to remake perfection?
1. “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003): They traded the psychos who chase victims in broad daylight for a shy slayer who opts to creep in the darkness. Big mistake as the end scene from the original freaked me out way more than the “Now you see him, now you don’t” scare tactics of today. And, when one of the victims dies, a ring box falls out of his pocket. Backstory to make the death more affecting? Totally unnecessary in my book.
After making my list, I realized the new “Evil Dead” is pretty solid.
They were sure to include scene staples, and on the bright side, this remake will likely turn a new generation of movie-goers onto the original. And for those who haven’t seen the new “Evil Dead,” be sure to wait until after the credits for a “surprise.”
Here’s what made the lists of other movie junkies.
Click here for Moviefone’s 5 Horror Movies That Don’t Suck
Click here for Hitflix’s 10 Horror Remakes That Got It Right
Here’s my all-time favorite horror movie remake:
Sarah Polley in “Dawn of the Dead”
“Dawn of the Dead” (2004): Sure, zombies can run in this take on the 1978 original. That took me a mere second to get over cause the movie allowed little time for criticism. Everything that happens before the opening credits screams: more suspense and more gore. Director Zack Snyder (“300″ and this year’s “Man of Steel”) used technology to his advantage, and by going with the revamped take on zombies, he made this remake his own.
What makes your list?
I’d never heard of Will Sasso and I’d never heard of Vine. I was recently introduced to both, and already, I’m a fan.
Vine an an app, much like Instagram, but users area able to record and post mini-videos. This video by Will Sasso is a compilation of his Vine clips, and it’s sure to brighten your day.
Click here to view more posts and happy Monday!
For this week’s Screen Time web show, Herald movie columnist Tim Albrecht and I talk “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” and “Oz The Great and Powerful,” which I FINALLY saw last weekend.
I know, I’m late. And I also know I probably missed out on not seeing it in 3-D.
But it was wonderful.
Save for the first 20 minutes, the film was colorful, uplifting and bright: the perfect antidote to North Dakota’s would-be spring. Director Sam Raimi catapults us into a visually striking world full of adorably clad inhabitants, so inviting, I wanted to live there.
Some of the effects did come across a bit cartoon-y. When James Franco (Oz) and Michelle Williams (Glinda, the Good Witch) travel by bubble, the effects seemed to falter, but that may have been a sequence better suited for 3-D.
Even kicking butt, Glinda the Good Witch has a heart of gold.
At first, I was concerned that Franco might’ve been miscast. He’s charismatic and talented, but he brings a very palpable air of modernity, which I thought might not translate.
But it all worked in his favor.
The role of Oz calls for a fast-talking con-man with an ahead-of-his-time charm. And Franco delivers.
Williams, as always, is a delight to watch. I came out of the film wishing Glinda and I could be besties because she’s so positive, encouraging and devoid of petty bad habits.
SPOILER ALERT: I’m not alone here, but I called Mila Kunis’ transformation into the Wicked Witch. Though, I’m no genius because I didn’t foresee Rachel Weisz as evil.
Both actresses bring it, and I was really taken with the backstory of The Wicked Witch. As someone who grew up with “The Wizard of Oz,” it was an insight that stuck with me days after I left the theater.
“Oz” does lack momentum before the end, but it makes for an even more entertaining ‘show’down. The film’s ending mirrors that of its sequel, which some may find cheesy, but for me, it just enchanted me further.
Definitely watch it if you’re curious. Save for some moments, it’s worth it.
Nerd Word movie columnist and I talk movies almost every day. Now, we’re doing it each week at GrandForksHerald.com. Check out our web show, Screen Time. Each week, we’ll talk new and upcoming movies showing in the Red River Valley.
