The Mummy: Tomb of The Dragon Emperor

If you ever saw The Mummy, or The Mummy Returns, you "may" have known what you were getting into. But that still won't make you forgive yourself for seeing this piece of garbage. The big issue here, is that the movie is up to old tricks, which don't serve it well after movies like, Indiana Jones, National Treasure, etc. have all come out this year, and all revolve around similar things in terms of what you'll see in the movie. Brendon Fraser is back, and not too bad. He's not the issue, but the movie clearly has a few.

First of all, Jet Li and Michelle Yoeh, are welcomed editions, but the whole "China" angle, instead of the traditional "Egypt" setting throw the film off course. You don't think of Dragon Emperors when you hear Mummy, you think of Egyptians, and such.
Secondly, it is simply a redux of The Mummy series, and nothing less. The Pirates of The Caribbean series taught us that there can be 'too much' of a good thing. Point proven here.
Third, and final is the constant barrage of CGI shots over and over. Even films like Fantastic Four look innocent compared to the excessive use seen here.

I guess, with all opinions aside, this movie still does nothing to seperate itself, or achieve anything new for a series not crying out for a third and dissapointing bookmark to a mediocre series.

FINAL RATING (1/4)

The Best Movie I've Ever Seen...

I first saw Casablanca when I was 12 years old. It's not my favorite but it'll always be the best I've ever seen. Nothing can match it, or even dare to try. It's Humphrey Bogart, and Ingrid Bergman at their best. The story is classic, and real. I've never been so enthralled by a single line, time after time in a movie.

"Play it again, Sam."
"Here's lookin' at you, kid."

Again and again, the film stamps inside of your mind the purpose and the meaning of a movie so great as this.

I couldn't tell you my thoughts when I first watched it, but I knew it was something special. That was reaffirmed time after time I watched it. Not even The Godfather can match it in stature, or importance in my own mind.

Now, that's sayin' something.

The Mummy? Not even Brendan Fraser Can Stop The Dark Knight.

Three weekends in a row, The Dark Knight has ruled the box office with an iron fist. Batman grabbed another 45 million dollars in it's third weekend, a firm hold with only a slight drop from last weekends 75 million. The Dark Knight has survived largely on word of mouth, and rabid fans coming out in support, but if there's one sure reason, it's because it's a 'good' movie.

A lot of the time, movies can make a lot of money, but rarely do movies make a lot of money, and are eaten up by critics and fans alike. Batman Begins had the critics, but not yet the fans. Batman fans, like myself had to lie dorment for the caped crusader to return to the screen, with dignity.

Before Batman Begins, we were given Batman and Robin. A re-creation of the campy t.v. series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. The series had popularity but drove real fans away. With The Dark Knight, popularity rose and blew the top off once it debuted.

While the movie doesn't have a shot at breaking Titanic's stranglehold for the all time record, (600,000,000) but a number two spot is likely.

V For Vendetta

Ok, I do have the bug of just now reviewing movies that came out years ago but I couldn't resist this one. If you ever read the graphic novel of the same name, written by the genius Alan Moore...you would've been excited to see this movie. Or, if you had been intoxicated with the belief that the Wachowski Brothers actually had talent, then you might've been stoked to see this movie. Either way, I know I was excited, and I came out satisfied.
Of course, it's not a perfect movie. But Hugo Weavings portrayel of the vigilante "V", is amazing. Come on, how many actors can pull of that kind of talent, behind a mask. His voice is all that's needed, in a thunderbolt of acting, which is just good enough to get noticed, but not by the Academy.
The story, which is simple but defined centers around a governement controlled world, a dicatorship of sorts, that rules it's citizens with an iron fist. No, it's not set in America, but it's premise hits home with just enough pop to get your attention, but not leave you shell shocked. The graphic novel is one of the greatest ever written, and proves Moore's genius. The writer penned the famous works, "The Watchmen", and the famous to Batman fans, "The Killing Joke".
Some purists of the novel, may criticize the film for jam packing the story into one feature film, but I'd rather that then have three seperate movies, and be switching directors, and stories, etc.
I am not a big fan of the Wachowskis, those guys responsible for The Matrix, and it's horrid sequels...but they did write and produce this flick, which is their first step away from The Matrix, and man...if it isn't welcomed.

The Color of Money

Time for another movie from the vault. I remember when I first saw this movie, a true classic in it's own rite. Nothing like watching Paul Newman, and Tom Cruise in his prime shoot some stick and have Newman looking like a god, among mere mortals. Paul Newman is a legend, but in a unique way. He isn't overly exploited, (Brando) but has enough talent to be above the general term 'entertainer' (John Wayne). Tom Cruise, man wasn't he something before he actually got a career? His acting is priceless as the young and full of it rebel, Eddie. He and Newman form an unlikely partnership, and an uneasy one at that. It's a joy seeing these two shoot it out in their heated arguements, and dedication to the scene.

If you haven't seen The Hustler, do so. And then see this one, which is a magnificent follow up to Newman's best movie in my opinion. Yeah, the old fogeys can yell at me and say, "Cool Hand Look is definitly his best!" or "Didn't you ever see Hud?". But hey, I'm sticking with raw talent, not just the most recognizable film of his career.

John Wayne had the searchers, Brando had The Godfather, Peck had To Kill A Mockingbird, and Brando had The Hustler, with a stunenr of a movie to follow it. In no way is it better then The Hustler, but it exemplifies every talent he had, and it had a swagger about it. Isn't that what it's all about?

Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace or The Future of Bond

Chances were, you saw Casino Royale. It was a much needed reboot to a flailing franchise, and was given the task of making audiences forget about the last James Bond implosion, Die Another Day. Critics were generally kind in their analysis of what is the low point of the franchise (do we really need an invisible Aston Martin?). Pierce Brosnan was the glue that held together his series of mediocre attempts to re-create the formidable series that James Bond was known for. Granted, no one has touched Connery's legacy, and most films have been a repeated dissapointment since Diamonds Are Forever. But it was Brosnans one film that almost made it, and that was Goldeneye. It's director, Martin Campbell had some vision and wit to throw around several times over. It was his job to re-build the franchise after two Timothy Dalton casualties. But, sadly he departed shortly after Goldeneye.
It was Casino Royale that got Goldeneye's director, Martin Campbell to start rebooting the franchise yet again. I won't lie, I criticized the film from the start. I didn't like Daniel Craig for the role, and he didn't have a credible lead role under his belt, and you want to hand him James Bond? Oh, I had my preconceptions. It was not until I saw Casino Royale, that my faith was restored.
Loosely based on Ian Fleming's novel of the same name, the movie had a style, a swagger, a feel all it's own. The action, though some scenes were overdone (see the chase scene through the jungle and construction site) but that's what Bond's all about, being over the top, and pushing the limits in all areas. Yes, James Bond was revived.
Nitpick all you want about the film, no one said it was perfect, but it brought back a series, stature, and a film that would make Connery at least think: "They finally got it right."

It is in the shadow of Casino Royale that we are presented with, Quantum of Solace, sadly Martin Campbell has departed once again, and replaced with director Mark Forster (Stranger Then Fiction, Monster's Ball).
Now, for once...we are given the chance at having not one good Bond film, but two in a row. This hasn't been apparent since Connery, and it's a long awaited oppertunity.

You may have noticed that I'm not very kind to all the other Bond films, and that's true. Roger Moore, was terrible. George Lazenby, ech! Timothy Dalton, talk about El Stiffo. Pierce Brosnan had the swagger, but he wasn't a bad-ass. Daniel Craig is the closest thing, let's hope it stays that way.

X-Men 3: The Last Stand

Let me just say this before I write anything else: I am by no means an X-Men fan. By saying that I mean, I have no sentimental views, I won't hold back my opinions for this attempt to seal the deal on one of the great franchises in comic book history. There are these times when things go really well (X-Men 2) and then there are these times when things don't go really well, (see the title). Well this, is one of those times.
Like I said, I am no X-Men fan, yes I appreciate the series and what it did, but I do not have any true love for the series. So when I first watched this movie, I had no expectations, and no reason to have any preconceptions about it. That said, I was open to either be blown away, or be provoked to switch the power button on my DVD player to the "off" position.
The movie opens with another one of those darned mutants, discovering a problem: He's having trouble hiding his real mutant being from the world. It is in that scene, that we are presented with the films moral choice, and that is: conform, or fight.
You see, these mutants are not very well liked, it's sort of a sharp throwback to the civil rights era, or more of a Ryan White kind of time. Most parents don't like their kids going to school with these 'creatures' and they want them to conform, by submitting themselves to a new 'cure'.
The films main antagonist, "Magneto" is the leader among the rebels, who refuse to submit to society. His group, or more like his posse, is known as 'The Brotherhood'. The films main conflict that is portrayed however, stems from Magneto's relationship to former friend, Professor Xavier. Each are on diffrent sides, Professor Xavier wants harmony, Magneto wants revenge.
It's all a fine set-up, for sure. But where the problem lies is the films exectution. Yeah, you could say that the films set-up's to the selective climaxes are great, memorable, and entertaining. But when all is said and done, these major build ups fail to serve much of a purpose in a film largely lacking in imagination.
This movie, ultimatly has one reason why it failed. Putting it simply, Brett Ratner. If you don't know who he is, he basically has had no legitamate career, save for some forgettable Jackie Chan movies, and when ol' Bryan Singer got out of the directors chair to helm a much needed Superman revival, it was left to Mr. Ratner to close the book on a great series.
You can definitly see the scars from letting a no-talent director helm an important move. All the characters mumble that terrible script, un-needed special effects are used relentlessly, (watch out for the golden gate bridge scene) and we are left with a jumbled mess. Lots and lots of cameos, weird tack ons, and so on adore this jig saw puzzle that looks like someone sawed it in all the wrong places.

FINAL RATING: (2/4)