DVD Review for April 8, 2014

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG
Rated PG-13
Stars: Ian McKellan, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage
Plot: Bilbo finds a mysterious ring while he continues his quest to reclaim the Dwarves' homeland from the dragon, Smaug.
Trailer

Clint Says: Buy this movie as soon as possible

If you saw the first movie in this series and gave up on it that is understandable. It was slow-moving and not up to the standards we have come to expect from director Peter Jackson. THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG is a return to excellence. I would suggest you give this series another chance.

While I will readily admit that there are several moments in this film that remind me of work, (namely a bunch of people having board meetings and then walking around in single-file lines), this film has a lot more action than the first and Smaug is amazing. It is completely worth sitting through the slower parts to get to the big dragon at the end.



AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Rated R
Stars: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney
Plot: A dysfunctional, estranged family is brought back together by a family crisis.
Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for it to show up on TV

This movie can be summed up in one sentence: A group of over-qualified actors overacting.

I know that Meryl Streep was nominated for an Oscar for this film, but I'm convinced that Streep could play a corpse and still get a nod from the Academy.

This movie really isn't worth your time.



GRUDGE MATCH
Rated PG-13
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Kevin Hart, Kim Basinger
Plot: Two old, has-been prize fighters must put aside their life-long grudge for one last fight.
Trailer

Clint Says: Let someone else rent it

The only thing good about this movie is Kevin Hart and Alan Arkin, they are hysterical. The rest of the movie is, unfortunately, just as lame as it sounds...two old guys that hate each other gearing up for one last fight. Oh, and there's a girl involved, too.

If you see this movie, you'll find yourself cringing and saying to Stallone and De Niro, "please stop, you're both too old for roles like this."



JUSTIN BIEBER: BELIEVE
Rated PG
Stars: Justin Bieber
Plot: A documentary on the pop star's rise to fame.
Trailer

Clint Says: I don't need to say anything. Beliebers will buy it, the rest will ignore it

Really, there is nothing to say about this. I could say it was the worst film ever made and the Beliebers would still buy up every last copy.

I will tell you this though, if you aren't a Belieber, this movie isn't good enough to make you change your mind. If you want to see a well done, pop star documentary, rent ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US.

Movie Review for January 10, 2014

LONE SURVIVOR
Rated R
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch
Plot: A small group of Navy SEALs have their mission compromised and find themselves surrounded by hundreds of Taliban supporters.
Trailer
Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this now

LONE SURVIVOR, based on the true story of Operation Red Wings, is very difficult to watch, but it worth every minute of your time. Wahlberg and the rest of the cast do an exemplary job of portraying the impossibility of their situation without straying from their military training. The tribute to the real heroes of Operation Red Wings at the end of the movie is worth the price of admission itself. If you liked ZERO DARK THIRTY you will love LONE SURVIVOR.


THE LEGEND OF HERCULES
Rated PG-13
Stars: Kellan Lutz, Gaia Weiss
Plot: The story of the birth, rejection and rise to power of the demi-god Hercules.
Trailer
Clint Says: Wait for the DVD and let someone else rent it

Can somebody please make a great movie of the story Hercules? This movie misses the mark in every way possible. First off, he's a demi-god with super-human powers and he only uses them twice. What!? Second, there are plot holes you could drive a truck through. Third, the graphics (which most of this movie is done in CGI) look like they were done in 1998. Fourth, the 3D version uses gimmicky 3D tricks to make the movie look more intense, but audiences are over that now. Finally, I thought that dialogue was important to a movie, I guess the execs on this film disagree with me.

The only audience that will find this movie enjoyable are males between 17 and 22. Everyone else shouldn't bother.



HER
Rated R
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams
Plot: A loner falls in love with his computer's artificial intelligence operating system.
Trailer
Clint Says: Save some money and go see a matinee

When I first heard about the premise of HER I thought, "that sounds creepy and weird." Then I went to see it and thought, "that was creepy and weird." Don't get me wrong, the movie is well done and very well acted, especially by Joaquin Phoenix, but it's still creepy and weird. It's played out in a not-too-distant future and is set up in a way that makes it seem like it is something that could actually happen. That's probably why it came across as creepy and weird.

There are people that will love every aspect of this film and others will be offended by the very premise. My recommendation, go see this movie based on your level of comfort with the plot.



AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
Rated R
Stars: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts
Plot: The Weston women return home with all of their dysfunctional baggage in tow.
Trailer
Clint Says: Wait for the DVD

This movie is best summed up this way: An incredible cast overacting a mediocre script allowing for a slightly above average film.



INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS
Rated R
Stars: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan
Plot: A folk singer tries to hit the big time, but his life keeps pulling him down.
Trailer
Clint Says: Don't even bother

This is easily one of the worst films I have ever seen. I know a lot of Hollywood types think this film is brilliant, but they are the same people that are convinced the Coen brothers fart unicorns on glitter rainbows. This movie starts about 5 chapters too late and ends 5 chapters too soon. Even so, I don't know if that would have saved this plodding, obnoxious borefest.