Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smtihsonian

Director: Shawn Levy

Writers: Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon

Ben Stiller

Amy Adams

Robin Williams

Owen Wilson

Hank Azaria

Bill Hader

Night at the Museum was a fun film that delivered comedy fit for children and adults. NATM: Battle of the Smithsonian delivers a bunch of cheap jokes, poorly developed characters and a very forced relationship between Larry Daley (Stiller) and Amelia Earhart (Adams).

The second film is based on the characters from the first film being moved into storage. Larry Daley has gone on to greener pastures thanks to a few cool inventions and no longer has time for his magical friends. He goes to Washington after finding out the monkey took the tablet with him. Daley spends a day searching for a way into deep storage and finds it by taking the ID badge of a security guard.

By the time he makes it to deep storage all of the items are coming to life. We meet Gen. Custer (Bill Hader), all talk and light on follow through, and Amelia Earhart, a fast talking “independent” woman who immediately falls for Larry.

The film's villain is Kamunrah (Azaria), the younger brother of Akmenrah from the first film. Kamunrah has waited centuries for his opportunity to avenge the way he was treated by his parents. He gathers a predictable group of sub-villains from storage, men like Napoleon and Capone who would never have followed him in real life. Azaria is entertaining (as always) as the younger brother with an inferiority complex.

The worst part of the film is the “relationship” between Larry and Amelia. It is like watching middle-school fanfic brought to life. Everyone who sees them comments on what a cute couple they are and how they should be together. Amelia waffles back and forth from independent to needing a man. The writers really missed the mark on this and unfortunately this storyline is a large part of the film.

The film will entertain the kids but as an adult I found it boring in many places. Save your money and just watch the original.

Star Trek - Major Spoiler Alerts

Let me begin by saying I am a Trekkie/Trekker to the core and that I have had "issues" with this incarnation since I saw the first preview. There is no way I could have watched this film without finding fault with something. That being said this film is actually enjoyable.

My "issues"
The whole badly plotted fanfic approach - the whole gang is at the academy together in spite of the differences in their ages (which are redone), the Spock/Uhura relationship (Spock's age is approximately 28 in this - Vulcan's only get it on every seven years you know), Sulu and
Chekov already being assigned to the Enterprise; Captain Pike and Kirk being on the Enterprise at the same time; Spock's mother being killed....the list goes on and on and on and on.

Thank goodness for alternate universes (another sign of a poorly plotted fanfic). This is the explanation given for all the wrong moves in this film.

The good part is that it actually works. The story pulls you in. The fast pace moves the story along and you are never bored. The effects are great.

So...if you are a trekkie/trekker see it twice. Once to gripe about all the things that are wrong (and there are many) and once to enjoy.

See again? Have to
DVD? You bet

Race to Witch Mountin

Starring
Dwayne Johnson (Jack Bruno)
AnnaSophia Robb (Sara)
Alexander Ludwig (Seth)
Carla Gugino (Dr. Alex Friedman)

Directed by Andy Fickman

The Witch Mountain series were among my favorite Disney films as a child. The alien brother and sister who find each other and their special abilities only to have to outwit evil adults in order to go home. That was the coolest.

The newest installment (Race to Witch Mountain) retains only the shell of the originals. That doesn't mean it is bad only that it is different. The originals relied more on the actual storyline to move the film. Race to Witch Mountain relies on action and special effects instead of storyline.

The story begins with flashes of UFO history. The viewer knows instantly that this is a film about aliens (huge difference from the original where you find out gradually). Our "hero" is former criminal trying to make it as a straight man (Jack Bruno) who unwittingly ends up transporting the kids to a remote cabin where they recover a data machine that will save their planet. Throw in some overzealous military types, a couple of angry muscle types and a sci-fi convention and you have a film.

These kids are not trying to get home. They are trying to save their home from environmental collapse. Yes, even Disney is on the environmental bandwagon. This is where the film fails. No longer can we have a film that involves kids wanting to go home. Instead they must have a greater purpose that reflects national, global and even "universal" goals. This aspect of the storyline really is a disservice to the viewer.

The film succeeds in its cameos. Both Kim Richards and Ike Eisenmann appear in the film. They were the original kids from Witch Mountain. Their cameos go beyond a nod to the past. Both of their characters are actually pivotal to the story. The best cameo in the film though belongs to Garry Marshall. God I love Garry Marshall. The man is funny.


The bonus in this film is Dwayne Johnson's acting. While I doubt he will ever be able to compete with the likes of Tom Hanks there is tremendous growth in his abilities since The Game Plan. This is most obvious in one of the cab scenes where you can feel Jack Bruno's fear. It is this quality that makes Dwayne Johnson one of my favorite actors to watch. He is willing to take a chance. He willing to work at the craft to make himself better. Plus he ain't so bad on the eyes either.

Would I pay to see it again? Maybe
DVD? Sure. Going to have to get the whole series though

Frost/Nixon

Excellent film that reenacts the Frost/Nixon interviews in the 70s. The film has a very liberal skew (it's about Nixon, duh!) tht is annoying at timnes. Most of this liberalism comes in teh trio of secondary characters working for Frost.

For me the film's strength lives in the relationship between Frost and Nixon. Nixon's assumption (correct at first) that he can steamroll Frost is what moves the story along.

Both Langella and ??? give strong performances. The competitive yet respectful relationship between the two makes one's head spin when compared with modern political media relationships. Langella performance is so strong that at times you think you are looking at Nixon in spite of the lack of makeup. ???'s performance shows a man whose confidence in himself is transformed over the course of the interviews.

The most surprising moment for me is when Langella plays a song on the piano. It is not until the credits are nearly over that we find out the song was actually composed by Richard Nixon.

This is one of the most solid films I've seen over the past year. Artistically it is beautiful---acting, directing, writing, cinematography. Ron Howard has the ability to know what needs to be in a film, not a frame is wasted.

See again? Can we go now?

Get on DVD? Absolutely.

Oscar Awards Picks - Remaining Catagories

I'm only posting on the categories in which I've seen the nominees.

Animated Feature - Wall-E

Adapted Screenplay - Slumdog (My pic would be Frost/Nixon and/or Doubt)

Cinematography - Slumdog

Art Direction - Benjamin Button

Visual Effects - Benjamin Button

Editing - Dark Knight

Sound Mixing - Wall-E

Original Score - Wall-E

Original Song - Down to Earth

Makeup - Benjamin Button

Oscar Awards Picks - The Major Catagory

My Picks (and comments)

Best Supporting Actor - Heath Ledger (Definitely a deserved nom, but after seeing the other noms in this category I'm not so certain he should win. Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Michael Shannon would be the stronger contenders had Ledger not passed away last year)

Best Supporting Actress - Viola Davis (Everyone has Penelope Cruz as the favorite here but I have to go with Viola Davis. She stole her scenes from Meryl Streep. Nuf said.)

Best Actor - Sean Penn (I'm torn on this one between Penn and Langella but I think the Academy with go with Penn)

Best Actress - Angelina Jolie (Hard choices here. It could just as easily be Meryl Streep)

Best Director - Danny Boyle/Slumdog Millionaire

Best Picture - Slumdog Millionaire

Another Group of Blitz Reviews

The Visitor. Very moving story of a man drawn from his own world of isolation into the world of illegal immigrants and the possibilities faced by illegal Muslims in the US today. You will remember this one.

Frost River. Another film dealing with illegal immigrants - this time being trafficked across the border by a Native American and a white woman who is desperate to save her home. Emotional but somewhat of a one-note film.

The Changling. A surprisingly subdued performance by Angelina Jolie based on a true story. The corruption with the LA Police Department of the 1920s will sicken you.