Final, damning evidence that Hollywood cares about nothing but money: Harvey Weinstein's complete demolition of Grindhouse, first for the foreign markets and now on DVD, where the film's grand "double feature" gimmick has been snapped in half. Quentin Tarantino's segment, Death Proof, comes out Tuesday, with Robert Rodriguez's Planet Terror due later this fall. They are now, apparently, individual movies: totally separate from each other and, horror of horrors, devoid of the marvelous faux previews that were far and away the best thing about the film's original incarnation. How did this happen? Was there something wrong with Grindhouse as it stood? Not according to the critics: the film currently sits at a bright and shiny 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, with 141 professional snarks singing its praises. Non-critics have been even more supportive; the Internet Movie Database lists it at #121 on the list of the best movies of all time -- ahead of such losers as Annie Hall, Platoon, and The Bicycle Thief. Read more >>>
Review by Chris Nelson from dreamlogic.net
At just 80 minutes Death Proof is Quentin’s shortest film to date, and somehow his most interminable. Overly chatty and under-compelling, its tale of a stuntman/serial killer (a vehicular-homicidal maniac) lulls when it should wow and stalls when it should kick into high gear. The film is broken into two halves, the first concerning a band of shallow 20-something females on a bar-hopping night in Austin, Texas, and the second a group of Hollywood types killing time in-between set-calls while on location in Tennessee. Both involve over thirty minutes of gab, followed by approximately 10 minutes of action, once Russell’s Stuntman Mike comes out to play. Read more >>>
Review by Kevin Laforest from celebritywonder.com
In Scott Frank's surprisingly great "The Lookout", we're told at some point that accident victims who suffer frontal-lobe trauma sometimes lose their inhibitions. Far be it from me to suggest that Quentin Tarantino got clunked something fierce during the "Death Proof" shoot, but I've rarely seen a filmmaker, in current Hollywood at least, expose their sexual and sadistic kinks on screen with such shameless glee!
In this throwback to the days of seedy movie-houses and drive-ins that showed exploitation flicks, we basically get a female Reservoir Dogs (Reservoir Bitches, if you will), inasmuch as the near majority of the running time is devoted to showing the interaction and conversations of a group of people, who eventually find themselves in deadly circumstances. To a large degree, this is what QT himself calls a hanging out movie, and I loved every second of it. I've already heard of folks being bored by the long scenes of chicks driving around, having drinks and casually chatting all the while, but let's leave those fools sucking on their Popsicles. Read more >>>
death ptroof, deatyh proof, death pr5oof, death propof, death proof, dea6h proof, death profo, death prroof, death proodf, dseath proof, deaath proof, deatj proof, death oroof, death proolf, deeath proof, death prloof, death proov, death prkof, deatbh proof, death prokof, dezth proof, death prof, deeath proof, dedath proof, deafth proof, death prioof, dezath proof, feath proof, deatgh proof, deatuh proof, death oproof, rdeath proof, death pdroof, deah proof, de4ath proof, death proorf, death p5oof, death rpoof, desath proof, death prokof, death prtoof, deawth proof, death proofg, death lproof, deatrh proof, dea6th proof, deatu proof, death prpoof, death proocf, death pro9f, sdeath proof, death peoof, death propf, death pr9of, death prooc, deayh proof, death plroof, detah proof, cdeath proof, death proif, death pro0of, dea5h proof, death pro0f, d4eath proof, deat proof, death -roof, dea5th proof, death preoof, daeth proof, deatb proof, deathj proof, death pr4oof, death prooff, death proiof, dewath proof, deat6h proof, xeath proof, deqth proof, deatg proof, death proo9f, deafh proof, death proopf, deathu proof, dweath proof, deathy proof, death prdoof, deathp roof, deatn proof, dearth proof, dreath proof, death prfoof, death lroof, d3ath proof, deatgh proof, dsath proof, deaht proof, death pfroof, d3eath proof, death proot, deathg proof, death pfoof, death proof, deathn proof, deagth proof, death p4roof, death pr0oof, drath proof, deqath proof, ddeath proof, dfeath proof, deat5h proof, dxeath proof, dewath proof, death pro9of, death p4oof, seath proof, de3ath proof, reath proof, desath proof, ddeath proof, dearh proof, death prootf, death proo, ddath proof, death prolof, death prokf, death p-roof, deat hproof, death porof, death proogf, deatfh proof, death prolf, eath proof, death pdoof, xdeath proof, deayth proof, death poof, death prlof, death proovf, deathproof, death peroof, death 0roof, death pro0of, dseath proof, desth proof, death pro9of, death propof, death proofv, deathb proof, deatjh proof, dceath proof, edath proof, death prolof, edeath proof, death prooof, death poroof, death pr0of, death priof, death roof, death proor, dreath proof, death prpof, death prookf, dwath proof, dewth proof, deth proof, death proo0f, deatth proof, fdeath proof, death proofd, death prkoof, deaty proof, dath proof, death p5roof, eeath proof, death proofr, death ptoof, death proog, death proofc, death 0proof, death pproof, death prooif, deathh proof, death proiof, death prof, deazth proof, deatyh proof, death prooft, death -proof, deatnh proof, deaqth proof, death prood, ceath proof, death p0roof, derath proof, deagh proof, deasth proof, death pr9oof, death prooof, d4ath proof
The "Spider Man" series of movies has become such a national phenomena there is no way the third installment is not going to be a smash at the box office. It has word of mouth, audience identification, and pre-movie momentum going for it big time. But is the third time the charm or the runt of the litter? Well do you like your puppies small or smaller?
The third installment opens with Peter Parker/Spider Man (Tobey Maguire) on top of the world. He is a hero to millions and the one girl he loves, loves him back. He plans to ask Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst) to marry him and he is sure she is going to say yes!
The one blemish in his happy life is his friend Harry (James Franco). He still holds Spider Man responsible for his father's death. He tells Peter that he will get revenge. Peter tries to dissuade him but Harry is determined to have his own private "payback" time with Spidey.
Peter also gets news about the murderer of his Uncle Ben (Cliff Robertson). He and his Aunt May (Rosemary Harris) are told by the police that the man they thought killed Ben didn't. Instead it was another man by the name of Flint Marko (Thomas Haden Church) who did the dastardly deed. Now Peter/Spidey has a new man to hunt down, and catching him may bot be too easy. He has an alter ego known as "the Sandman."
Also a meteorite plunges to earth and a strange goo crawls out of it. This goo attaches itself to Spider Man and makes his bright suit dark. It also changes his personality, bringing out his worst traits. Peter Parker goes from being mild to being hip. He struts down the street looking like an auditioner for "Saturday Night Fever."
Meanwhile Mary Jane has let her demons loose and is jealous of Peter's attention to the Police Commissioner's daughter Gwen (Bryce Dallas Howard). She is going through some problems in her professional life and it affects her relationship with Peter.
All of this is crammed into the movie and more, and it is just too much. We are into overkill country quickly. One villain, one personal crisis, and one climactic event would have been plenty. But nooooo, we have to have one big scene after another with each one topping the one that preceded it.
What is right with the movie are the special effects. All that swooping and swinging from tall buildings is still enough to make you want to stand up and cheer. There is also still a sweetness about Peter Parker that the audience enjoys.
On the negative side the addition of Bryce Dallas Howard and Topher Grace to the cast is a bad idea. Both of these actors flop in throwaway roles. We also don't need cameos from James Cromwell, J K Simmons, Elizabeth Banks, Bill Nunn and many more actors who are capable of carrying a full part.
The makers of the movie should have lost the hip Peter bit. It's embarrassing. They also should have lost about forty-five minutes of the movie. It is way too long. And tell Kirsten Dunst to start eating. Her legs look like sticks.
The film is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence.
There is just too much crammed into this movie to make it enjoyable. It feels overdone from start to finish. Maybe they just went to the "Spider Man" well one time too many. Yet there is strong talk about making a fourth installment.
"Spider Man 3" will undoubtedly make money. The question is will it entertain. Kids will answer a resounding YES! while older kids and adults will be disappointed.
Raising Helen eats Ratatouille in this picture. The unexpected thrust into parenthood due to a tragedy and the pressures and extravagance of the culinary arts and fine dining are combined in this tasty dish. I went in expecting a romantic comedy but I was surprised with a romantic drama, extra drama with a side of comedy. The focus was primarily on Zoe (Abigail Breslin) and her tragic situation. As well it should because we sometimes take these scenarios too lightly not realizing the impact it has on a child. Kind of catches you off guard at times, but in a good way.
Master Chef Kate (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is an uptight, passionate perfectionist when it comes to her kitchen. She is backed up by her talent and reputation. Her demanding career makes her mostly alone until a tragic event brings her 9 year old niece Zoe to her door. Inexperienced and emotionally ill-equipped, she takes on this major life change with a constant reminder that Zoe’s life change is even more drastic. Balancing her grief, her niece’s grief, and the added responsibilities of parenthood, she tries to maintain control of the kitchen. Forced to take some time off to recoup, a new Sous-Chef is hired to help out during her absence. Nick (Aaron Eckhart) is the complete opposite of Kate except for the talent and passion for cooking. He struggles to show her that life doesn’t have to be so rigid and controlled.
Catherine Zeta-Jones oozes the uptight, control freak type characters. She does it so well it’s scary. That combined with her classic silver screen beauty (needed for the romance portion of the show) makes her perfect for this role. Aaron Eckhart does not cease to amaze me. He can do good guy, bad guy, “rocket” scientist, corporate spokesperson, and free-spirited Sous-Chef almost effortlessly. I think he is underrated. The little girl that had amebas in her water in Signs and danced like her grandpa taught her in Little Miss Sunshine delights us again with a strong performance in this one. She is definitely one of the great child stars of today. The cookie cutter characters were predictable, but the performances gave them the extra chocolate chips.
Beyond the taste buds, the sights and sounds of the movie were very nice as well. The music was appropriate and well used, like opera in the kitchen for instance. The cinematography was masterful. The scenes in Kate’s apartment were so cozy, even the hallway was appealing. The hustle in the kitchen was well covered and smooth, down to the escape room, the walk-in freezer.
Director Scott Hicks (Hearts in Atlantis, Snow Falling on Cedars) successfully blended the talent he was working with to bring us this delectable story. This is not your typical lightly-salted date movie, but still a date movie nonetheless. Although it smells like cliche', it is a nice change of pace from the ordinary. Priscilla would have really enjoyed it. It will touch your heart in a different way. Oh yeah, it touches your stomach too. I don’t know about you, but it made me hungry.
mo reservations, no reservati9ons, noo reservations, no resefrvations, no reservatipns, no reservationx, no 5reservations, no reservatuons, no reservawtions, no reeservations, no redservations, no reeervations, no reservatiobs, no reservaqtions, no reservatoons, no reservagions, no reservation, no reservatfions, no reserbations, no rfeservations, no reservwtions, no reservatiomns, npo reservations, no reservbations, no rerservations, no9 reservations, no reservat9ons, no reszervations, no reservatins, no re3servations, nho reservations, nlo reservations, no reservationbs, no res4rvations, no r4servations, no reservqations, no0 reservations, no reservagtions, no reservationse, no reseevations, np reservations, no rservations, no reserfvations, no reservaions, no reservatiohs, no reservtaions, no reserrvations, no rwservations, no r5eservations, n oreservations, no 4eservations, no reservatiobns, njo reservations, no reservastions, no reservationms, no resetrvations, no reeservations, no res3ervations, no reservqtions, no reservatiolns, no reservat8ons, no reservayions, nok reservations, no eservations, no resaervations, no rsservations, no reservatiions, bno reservations, nko reservations, no reserrvations, no reservatiosn, no reservatiions, no reservatio0ns, no reservatikns, no r3servations, no reservaftions, no reservatiohns, no reservationsd, no rdeservations, no rreservations, no reservgations, nol reservations, no reservsations, no 5eservations, no resdervations, no resergvations, no reservationws, no rdservations, no redervations, no resservations, no reseervations, no res3rvations, no reaservations, no resdervations, no reservwations, n0 reservations, no ressrvations, no reswrvations, no reservatioons, no reservationhs, no resercvations, no reservationes, n reservations, mno reservations, no resefvations, no rseervations, no reservationns, no res4ervations, no reserbvations, no reservatyions, no resedrvations, no eeservations, no reservatioons, no reserevations, no reservationsa, no deservations, jno reservations, no teservations, no reservatipons, no reservatioms, no resrvations, no reserva5tions, no resrevations, no reservatoins, no resergations, noi reservations, no reservatijons, no reserva5ions, no reseervations, nio reservations, n0o reservations, no rese5vations, nk reservations, no reservationss, no reservatikons, n9 reservations, no reservarions, no resrervations, no reser5vations, no reservationxs, no reservati0ns, no r4eservations, ho reservations, no resdrvations, no reservatoions, no reserfvations, no rseservations, no rewservations, no reservat9ions, no reservatuions, no reservat8ions, no reservattions, no dreservations, no reserations, no reserdvations, no freservations, no rreservations, no reservatiojns, no resservations, jo reservations, no reservatioins, no reservatiopns, no reservztions, no r4eservations, no rewervations, no redservations, no reservatiokns, no reservationds, no reservatkons, no resedvations, no reservatione, no reservatios, no reservationsx, no reservationd, no reservartions, no reservationas, no resetvations, no treservations, no reservaations, no reseravtions, on reservations, no reservafions, nl reservations, nno reservations, no reservatons, no rezervations, no reservati9ons, n9o reservations, no rweservations, no reserfations, no reeservations, nmo reservations, noreservations, no reserva6tions, no reservaitons, no reservzations, no resevrations, no resrrvations, no resedrvations, no reservfations, no rese4vations, no reservations, no reservaytions, no resxervations, bo reservations, no reswervations, no reervations, no rexervations, no rewservations, no reservatiojs, no reservatjions, no erservations, no rrservations, no rese5rvations, no reservati0ons, no reservatiins, no reservationw, no reservatilons, no reservatiuons, no resevations, no reaervations, no reservcations, no reservationz, no resercations, no re4servations, no rexservations, no rese3rvations, no reswervations, no reservatgions, no reservatrions, no resesrvations, nop reservations, no rese4rvations, no rezservations, no reservationsz, no reservaztions, o reservations, no 4reservations, no reservationsw, no rdeservations, no feservations, no reservat6ions, no reservatio9ns, no rese4rvations, no reservstions, no resewrvations, nbo reservations, no reserva6ions, no reservatinos, no reesrvations, no r3eservations, no reservatkions, ni reservations, no resertvations, no ereservations, no reservationzs, no reser4vations, no reservat5ions, no reservationjs, no reservatjons, no reservtions, nor eservations, no reservatikons, no reservati8ons, no resservations, no reservvations, no reservati9ns, hno reservations, no reservatilns, no rteservations, no reseervations, no reservationa
“It is not for the gold, it is for the glory.” and this movie might reach both. Beowulf 3D is based in the first English language epic poem ever written, Beowulf. The story was originated between 700 and 750 AD, finally after 1200 years someone has been able to make a movie worth to its origin. When I first saw the preview of the movie I was exited since I thought it was going to be like a mixture of 300 and The Lord of the Rings. Well the movie is nothing like either of them, nonetheless, it did not disappoints. It has everything that a good epic movie should have: A hero, Monsters, Dragons, action, adventure, even a little comedy, ah! and did I mention it is on digital 3-D. There is just one thing I have to say about this film: It is a most see in the theater.
It is 750 A.D, and Hrothgar, king of the Danes (Antony Hopkins) has built the biggest mead hall, Heorot, where him and his people drink and dance until dawn. Until one day, a hideous creature, Grendel (Crispin Glober), comes to the hall at night bother for all the noise the humans were making and kill everybody but the king. This becomes an every day event, forcing the king to closed the great hall for good. He offers half of his gold to whoever kills and free his kingdom from this monster. A great warrior from the tribe of the Geats, named Beowulf(Ray Wingston) who is brave, kind, strong and his obsession is not gold but pride and power, comes to faced this creature and the creatures Mother (Angelina Jolie). Little did he knows that he was also facing himself.
The movie is well directed. I like the new approach they took about this epic, many people who read the book might be disappointed since it does not follow it, on the other hand, this approach seems more real, makes sense and feels in the gaps that the original version has. the cast makes an excellent job portraying their character. Antony Hopkins makes terrific performance as king Hrothgar, John Malkovich impressed me as Ulfreith, and Jolie makes the perfect Monster, it is a shame she did not have more screen time. The voice of Grendal describe the monster and depicts the time, but sometimes it was hard to understand. The special effects could be disappointed for many people who thought they were going to watch real actors like in 300 and Sin City, but once you realized it is an animated movie, they are excellent, in some scenes it seems like there are the real actors, and the monsters are well depicted and defined; they have no flaw in any scene. the 3D effects are just icing on the cake, they really pull this off the audience will feel they are inside the movie along Beowulf fighting the monsters. The action scenes are energetic, realistic and exiting with the 3D effects the audience see the best angles and be on the edge of their seats. The only think that might disappoint the audience is the final scene, since it is kind of predictable.
Producer and director did a great job with the settings. They were all well chose and displayed from the landscaping in northern Denmark, the storms in the sea to Grendel dungeon. They also did their homework in the mythology , mentioning the Nordic gods and different creatures, and introducing the new emerging religion in society at the end. As a High school student I did not paid any attention to the book, I found it hard to read, understand, and boring. Beowulf 3-D completely changed my perspective of this legendary epic. With a talented cast a good director and great special effects Beowulf 3D is an enjoyable, fascinating, unique and mystical experience that might innovate animated movies.
Everything old is new again in 300, director Zack Snyder's account of the barbaric Battle of Thermopylae, a film that is ridiculously stylish and commendably substantive. I expected the former (Snyder's source material is a graphic novel from cult hero Frank Miller) and was delighted by the latter, as 300 winds up being far more original than I thought possible.
Like Robert Rodriguez in Sin City, Snyder employs cutting-edge visual technology and green-screen effects to essentially photocopy Miller's acclaimed work of the same name. Because Miller's graphic novels have been fountains of inspiration for a handful of recent directors, his style has become overly identifiable. Splotches of crimson (usually blood) stain sun-dried backdrops as impossibly chiseled warriors fight long past their dying breath. That's 300 in a nutshell, though Snyder's tight epic additionally bathes in every tired cliche of the warrior genre, yet somehow makes it all seem fresh.
Do you know that cocky individual who appears in every decent combat film, the one wearing the disturbing ear-to-ear grin as he mows down waves of enemy troops? Spartan king Leonidas (Gerard Butler) had 300 of these wild-card soldiers on his side when his recruits went toe-to-toe with Persia's massive armies in 480 B.C. Pigeonholing his enemies into a constricted and controllable mountain passage, Leonidas staged a brave front against escalating forces for three days. Their courageous stand bought limited time for Leonidas' wife, Queen Gorgo (Lena Headey), who fought to overcome political opposition in Sparta and assemble a properly armed resistance.
Snyder borrows substantially from Miller's visual palette as he paints 300 on the big screen. Glorious shots of Leonidas and crew gazing contemplatively at matte-painting storm clouds mirror stills from Miller's source comic. Snyder dutifully copies the look while bringing his own fluid pace to the grainy snapshots.
Three hundred also happens to be the number (roughly) of iconic combat images that Snyder commits to the screen once the fighting starts. Grand battles usually are cut with disorienting speed, producing sequences of chaos. Often, it's impossible to tell in a battle who is hitting whom. Snyder favors long, unbroken shots of choreographed carnage. His slow-motion approach honors the fighting technique of his soldiers, and gives us ample time to drink in the stunning visuals that complement the conflict.
However, 300 delivers more than relentless, bone-crunching violence. Snyder takes time to explain Sparta's core beliefs as he illustrates the legendary grooming of Leonidas, trained from birth to be the victor. Spartans, we're told, have their egos stroked at an early age. The Greek population's inflated sense of self created a dangerous motivation to fight -- when the only other option is to bow before a substandard people, Spartans have no choice but to swing a sword.
Butler becomes the driving force of 300, which projects the intense Leonidas as a leader at several crossroads, all of which trace back to his unshakable loyalty. A tragic hero, Leonidas knows his place -- in history, as well as in reality -- is at the head of this phalanx of washboard-stomached Spartans. On that note, what is the deal with those abs? Membership at the Sparta YMCA must be a requirement of the Greek nation's army.
300 suffers from some minor issues. The title misleads, as Leonidas' 300-man platoon was joined by Arcadian allies before even reaching the battlegrounds. Most scenes don't benefit from the film's supplied narration. These lines of dialogue likely appeared in text boxes on Miller's pages, and Snyder was clearly hesitant to erase them. Plus, Persian emperor Xerxes the Great probably wasn't the fey glam queen that Snyder and actor Rodrigo Santoro make him out to be -- is there a history text that addresses sexual preferences of Greco-Persian figureheads?
Snyder made his debut three years back with an updated Dawn of the Dead, which instantly turned the zombie genre on its ear by making the predatory creatures smarter and faster than normal. Now, with 300, Snyder blends the swift pace and stylish posturing of today's attention-challenged cinema to the sword-and-sandal genre, a format that to this point has been crucified by bloated entries such as Alexander, Troy, and Kingdom of Heaven. It's early in his career, but Snyder's making a decent play for the title Father of Reinvention, and I'm anxious to see what genre he reworks next.
Shane Meadows uses his own childhood as the basis for this striking film, beautifully recreating 1980s Britain with the help of a terrific cast. It's easily Meadows' best film yet, and one of the finest films of the year.
It's 1983 and tough 12-year-old Shaun (Turgoose), who lives with his mother (Hartley), is struggling to cope with his father's death while fighting in the Falklands. The other kids tease him mercilessly, but a group of skinhead punks led by Woody (Gilgun) take him in, shaving his head and kitting him out with a Ben Sherman shirt and Doc Martens. Then Combo (Graham) returns from prison and divides the group with his racist nationalism. And Shaun is quickly won over.
Meadows brings together the various elements perfectly, balancing sharp social commentary with realistic wit and humour. And the performances are startlingly natural. Turgoose is a rare child actor who can carry a movie without dipping into sentimentality. His prepubescent inquisitiveness, gullible acceptance of things older people should know better, and emotional response to events around him are spot on. His scenes with "girlfriend" Hanson are absolutely wonderful, even if they're deeply wrong.
The other standout in the ensemble is Graham, whose beliefs, actions and ability to win people to his side are seriously frightening. But even if he's the ostensible villain of the piece, we can also see his inner insecurity and frustration at how society has lost its way. This is clear through both Graham's transparent performance and Meadows' astute script, which hones in on the violent bravado with razor-sharp precision.
Elegantly filmed in like a plaintive fable, with a score that blends period pop tunes with lush instrumentals, the emotive style at times seems to jar with the insidious storyline. But there's a powerful warmth and resonance most films on this kind of topic can never even hint at. Echoes of today's society are clear but never heavy-handed, and many scenes leap off thescreen with sheer intensity, such as a nationalist rally that feels like a fundamental religious service. It's an excellent film that'll both stir your mind and break your heart.
rthis is england trhis is england fthis is england tfhis is england gthis is england tghis is england ythis is england tyhis is england 6this is england t6his is england 5this is england t5his is england tghis is england thgis is england tbhis is england thbis is england tnhis is england thnis is england tjhis is england thjis is england tuhis is england thuis is england tyhis is england thyis is england thuis is england thius is england thjis is england thijs is england thkis is england thiks is england thois is england thios is england th9is is england thi9s is england th8is is england thi8s is england thias is england thisa is england thizs is england thisz is england thixs is england thisx is england thids is england thisd is england thies is england thise is england thiws is england thisw is england this uis england this ius england this jis england this ijs england this kis england this iks england this ois england this ios england this 9is england this i9s england this 8is england this i8s england this ias england this isa england this izs england this isz england this ixs england this isx england this ids england this isd england this ies england this ise england this iws england this isw england this is wengland this is ewngland this is sengland this is esngland this is dengland this is edngland this is rengland this is erngland this is 4england this is e4ngland this is 3england this is e3ngland this is ebngland this is enbgland this is emngland this is enmgland this is ejngland this is enjgland this is ehngland this is enhgland this is enfgland this is engfland this is envgland this is engvland this is enbgland this is engbland this is enhgland this is enghland this is enygland this is engyland this is entgland this is engtland this is engkland this is englkand this is engpland this is englpand this is engoland this is engloand this is englzand this is englaznd this is englsand this is englasnd this is englwand this is englawnd this is englqand this is englaqnd this is englabnd this is englanbd this is englamnd this is englanmd this is englajnd this is englanjd this is englahnd this is englanhd this is englansd this is englands this is englanxd this is englandx this is englancd this is englandc this is englanfd this is englandf this is englanrd this is englandr this is englaned this is englande rhis is england fhis is england ghis is england yhis is england 6his is england 5his is england tgis is england tbis is england tnis is england tjis is england tuis is england tyis is england thus is england thjs is england thks is england thos is england th9s is england th8s is england thia is england thiz is england thix is england thid is england thie is england thiw is england this us england this js england this ks england this os england this 9s england this 8s england this ia england this iz england this ix england this id england this ie england this iw england this is wngland this is sngland this is dngland this is rngland this is 4ngland this is 3ngland this is ebgland this is emgland this is ejgland this is ehgland this is enfland this is envland this is enbland this is enhland this is enyland this is entland this is engkand this is engpand this is engoand this is englznd this is englsnd this is englwnd this is englqnd this is englabd this is englamd this is englajd this is englahd this is englans this is englanx this is englanc this is englanf this is englanr this is englane his is england tis is england ths is england thi is england thisis england this s england this i england this isengland this is ngland this is egland this is enland this is engand this is englnd this is englad this is englan htis is england tihs is england thsi is england thi sis england thisi s england this si england this i sengland this ise ngland this is negland this is egnland this is enlgand this is engalnd this is englnad this is engladn tthis is england thhis is england thiis is england thiss is england this is england this iis england this iss england this is england this is eengland this is enngland this is enggland this is englland this is englaand this is englannd this is englandd
The first “Shrek” was a quite a surprising and genuinely funny stab at the fairy-tale genre (and Disney in general). It also made enough money to garner a sequel, titled “Shrek 2” of course, and the result was a damn near waste of celluloid. There was nothing new about that film and the references that made the first one seem so fresh, ended up making this one stale in comparison. But it made money. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that we have another sequel wrecking havoc on our lives this summer. “Shrek the Third” is somewhat of an improvement over the last one, though it still never veers off familiar terrain. Essentially, if you've only seen one "Shrek" film, you've seen them all.
Picking up right where the last one left off, Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are living it up in the Kingdom of Far, Far Away Land, posing as the King and Queen, as the real ones are off somewhere doing something. Before the King finally croaks (the King is a frog, get it?), he appoints his large green son-in-law to take over the throne. Only he doesn’t want the job.
So what does Shrek do? If you’ve seen the other two, you know exactly what happens next. He goes on another journey with his compatriots Donkey (Eddie Murphy, surprisingly not wearing a fat-suit) and Puss In Boots (Antonio Banderas). This time they have to travel to Worcestershire (if only I was making that up) to pick up the other heir to the throne. This land also happens to be a high school and the person they seek happens to be the class dork. Artie (Justin Timberlake) doesn’t fit in with the jocks and the Dungeons and Dragons-playing nerds don’t like him either. Imagine his excitement to learn that he has just been appointed King to a bunch of people he’s never met in a land he’s never been to?
While Shrek and crew are off on their little escapade, Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) returns to Kingdom with a vengeance. With the assistance of Captain Hook (Ian McShane), and a whole slew of other proverbial villains, he takes over Far, Far Away and crowns himself King. And you can figure out the rest from here.
The real problem with this film, outside of unoriginality of course, is that the jokes are either too childish for adults or way too adult for kids. There is no doubt in my mind that “Shrek the Third” is supposedly geared for children but are they really going to get a Led Zepplin reference? Are they going to chuckle when they see a gang of teenagers climb out of a carriage with smoke pouring out of it as if they were just pulling a Spicoli?
Princess Fiona is also pregnant and this leaves Shrek with a lot of woes. You can imagine the types of concerns and problems he has to tackle here too. While it may open the door for the inevitable “Shrek 4,” it’ll no doubt fuel the most curious of kid with a couple of questions you may not be ready to answer at this point in their lives.
The soundtrack contains some nice bits, including songs by The Eels, Wolfmother and The Ramones. It also includes an ear-bleeding cover of Heart's Barracuda by Fergie, which is no good for anybody.
Just like the other two films, "Shrek the Third" was written by an infinite amount of screenwriters, making sure no pop-culture reference was left untouched. Co-directors Chris Miller and Raman Hui do a consistent job of making this film look exactly like the other two. Which is a good thing if you don’t feel like spending a lot of money at the theater this weekend. If you have a large family, and they want you to drag them to see this new movie, just pop in the first or second one in your DVD player and tell them it’s the new one. They’ll never know the difference.
ashrek the third sahrek the third zshrek the third szhrek the third xshrek the third sxhrek the third dshrek the third sdhrek the third eshrek the third sehrek the third wshrek the third swhrek the third sghrek the third shgrek the third sbhrek the third shbrek the third snhrek the third shnrek the third sjhrek the third shjrek the third suhrek the third shurek the third syhrek the third shyrek the third sherek the third shreek the third shdrek the third shrdek the third shfrek the third shrfek the third shtrek the third shrtek the third sh5rek the third shr5ek the third sh4rek the third shr4ek the third shrwek the third shrewk the third shrsek the third shresk the third shrdek the third shredk the third shrrek the third shrerk the third shr4ek the third shre4k the third shr3ek the third shre3k the third shrejk the third shrekj the third shremk the third shrekm the third shrelk the third shrekl the third shreok the third shreko the third shreik the third shreki the third shrek rthe third shrek trhe third shrek fthe third shrek tfhe third shrek gthe third shrek tghe third shrek ythe third shrek tyhe third shrek 6the third shrek t6he third shrek 5the third shrek t5he third shrek tghe third shrek thge third shrek tbhe third shrek thbe third shrek tnhe third shrek thne third shrek tjhe third shrek thje third shrek tuhe third shrek thue third shrek tyhe third shrek thye third shrek thwe third shrek thew third shrek thse third shrek thes third shrek thde third shrek thed third shrek thre third shrek ther third shrek th4e third shrek the4 third shrek th3e third shrek the3 third shrek the rthird shrek the trhird shrek the fthird shrek the tfhird shrek the gthird shrek the tghird shrek the ythird shrek the tyhird shrek the 6third shrek the t6hird shrek the 5third shrek the t5hird shrek the tghird shrek the thgird shrek the tbhird shrek the thbird shrek the tnhird shrek the thnird shrek the tjhird shrek the thjird shrek the tuhird shrek the thuird shrek the tyhird shrek the thyird shrek the thuird shrek the thiurd shrek the thjird shrek the thijrd shrek the thkird shrek the thikrd shrek the thoird shrek the thiord shrek the th9ird shrek the thi9rd shrek the th8ird shrek the thi8rd shrek the thierd shrek the thired shrek the thidrd shrek the thirdd shrek the thifrd shrek the thirfd shrek the thitrd shrek the thirtd shrek the thi5rd shrek the thir5d shrek the thi4rd shrek the thir4d shrek the thirsd shrek the thirds shrek the thirxd shrek the thirdx shrek the thircd shrek the thirdc shrek the thirfd shrek the thirdf shrek the thirrd shrek the thirdr shrek the thired shrek the thirde ahrek the third zhrek the third xhrek the third dhrek the third ehrek the third whrek the third sgrek the third sbrek the third snrek the third sjrek the third surek the third syrek the third sheek the third shdek the third shfek the third shtek the third sh5ek the third sh4ek the third shrwk the third shrsk the third shrdk the third shrrk the third shr4k the third shr3k the third shrej the third shrem the third shrel the third shreo the third shrei the third shrek rhe third shrek fhe third shrek ghe third shrek yhe third shrek 6he third shrek 5he third shrek tge third shrek tbe third shrek tne third shrek tje third shrek tue third shrek tye third shrek thw third shrek ths third shrek thd third shrek thr third shrek th4 third shrek th3 third shrek the rhird shrek the fhird shrek the ghird shrek the yhird shrek the 6hird shrek the 5hird shrek the tgird shrek the tbird shrek the tnird shrek the tjird shrek the tuird shrek the tyird shrek the thurd shrek the thjrd shrek the thkrd shrek the thord shrek the th9rd shrek the th8rd shrek the thied shrek the thidd shrek the thifd shrek the thitd shrek the thi5d shrek the thi4d shrek the thirs shrek the thirx shrek the thirc shrek the thirf shrek the thirr shrek the thire hrek the third srek the third shek the third shrk the third shre the third shrekthe third shrek he third shrek te third shrek th third shrek thethird shrek the hird shrek the tird shrek the thrd shrek the thid shrek the thir hsrek the third srhek the third sherk the third shrke the third shre kthe third shrekt he third shrek hte third shrek teh third shrek th ethird shrek thet hird shrek the htird shrek the tihrd shrek the thrid shrek the thidr sshrek the third shhrek the third shrrek the third shreek the third shrekk the third shrek the third shrek tthe third shrek thhe third shrek thee third shrek the third shrek the tthird shrek the thhird shrek the thiird shrek the thirrd shrek the thirdd
Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End Movie Review
Who cares that a summer blockbuster might be an incoherent, overplotted mess, when it comes stocked with a charismatic protagonist, an intriguing love triangle, plus enough swashbuckling action and spooky special effects to make you forget the fact that the story is almost impossible to keep straight? That's what we have with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, possibly the finale of Disney's billion-dollar trilogy, unless the company can coax Johnny Depp to have another go at it as Captain Jack Sparrow.
When last we saw the terminally-eccentric skipper of the Black Pearl, he and his ship had been dragged to the bottom of the ocean by the Kraken, a mammoth sea monster doing the bidding of dastardly Davy Jones (Bill Nighy). In the interim, piracy has turned into a rather perilous profession, due to an unholy alliance between Jack's tentacle-faced tormentor and Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander), the Chairman of the East India Trading Company.
With Beckett now in control of The Flying Dutchman, Jones' ghoulish ghost ship, the invincible vessel has been ridding the Seven Seas of pirates. So, as the film unfolds, we are greeted with the spectacle of the mass hanging of hundreds of convicts condemned to the gallows.
Meanwhile, a plan is being hatched by Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and his fianc?e, Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), the fetching femme fatale responsible for seemingly sending Jack to a watery grave. With the help of Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) they encourage the rest of the outlawed Lords of the Brethren Court to put aside their differences to rescue him and thereby to resuscitate their flagging brotherhood of thieves.
Also among the ill-fitting crew of conspirators assembled for the adventure are the mischievous Pintel (Lee Arenberg), the superstitious Ragetti (Mackenzie Cook), and Tia Dalma, aka Calypso (Naomie Harris), a West Indian witch whose clairvoyant persona was ostensibly channeled from Miss Cleo of the Psychic Friends Network. Yet, none from this colorful ensemble can match Cap'n Jack in terms of magnetism, for his concatenation of tics still steals his every scene, even opposite his father, played by the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, who Depp freely admits served as the source of inspiration in creating the character.
Since Pirates 2 and 3 were shot simultaneously, fans of the franchise are forewarned to anticipate a sense of d?j? vu while watching this flick. Although the scenes are certainly original, there remains a vaguely familiarity air about it all, similar to the experience offered by the final installment of Lord of the Rings.
In sum, At World's End is a CGI-driven, seafaring saga of Shakespearean proportions, exploring an assortment of themes worthy of The Bard of Avon: love and betrayal, good versus evil, failing and redemption, and more. Unfortunately, it spins a far more convoluted yarn than its demographic desires, a flaw further complicated by a glut of both good guys and bad guys to keep track of.
Best to think of Pirates 3 as just a Johnny Depp vehicle to be savored as a mindless, mildly scary escape. Just be sure to sit through the entire closing credits for a postscript which ties up loose ends while dropping a big hint about what might be in store should there be a Pirates 4.
opirates of the caribbean poirates of the caribbean lpirates of the caribbean plirates of the caribbean -pirates of the caribbean p-irates of the caribbean 0pirates of the caribbean p0irates of the caribbean puirates of the caribbean piurates of the caribbean pjirates of the caribbean pijrates of the caribbean pkirates of the caribbean pikrates of the caribbean poirates of the caribbean piorates of the caribbean p9irates of the caribbean pi9rates of the caribbean p8irates of the caribbean pi8rates of the caribbean pierates of the caribbean pireates of the caribbean pidrates of the caribbean pirdates of the caribbean pifrates of the caribbean pirfates of the caribbean pitrates of the caribbean pirtates of the caribbean pi5rates of the caribbean pir5ates of the caribbean pi4rates of the caribbean pir4ates of the caribbean pirzates of the caribbean piraztes of the caribbean pirsates of the caribbean pirastes of the caribbean pirwates of the caribbean pirawtes of the caribbean pirqates of the caribbean piraqtes of the caribbean pirartes of the caribbean piratres of the caribbean piraftes of the caribbean piratfes of the caribbean piragtes of the caribbean piratges of the caribbean piraytes of the caribbean piratyes of the caribbean pira6tes of the caribbean pirat6es of the caribbean pira5tes of the caribbean pirat5es of the caribbean piratwes of the caribbean piratews of the caribbean piratses of the caribbean piratess of the caribbean piratdes of the caribbean pirateds of the caribbean piratres of the caribbean piraters of the caribbean pirat4es of the caribbean pirate4s of the caribbean pirat3es of the caribbean pirate3s of the caribbean pirateas of the caribbean piratesa of the caribbean piratezs of the caribbean piratesz of the caribbean piratexs of the caribbean piratesx of the caribbean pirateds of the caribbean piratesd of the caribbean piratees of the caribbean piratese of the caribbean piratews of the caribbean piratesw of the caribbean pirates iof the caribbean pirates oif the caribbean pirates kof the caribbean pirates okf the caribbean pirates lof the caribbean pirates olf the caribbean pirates pof the caribbean pirates opf the caribbean pirates 0of the caribbean pirates o0f the caribbean pirates 9of the caribbean pirates o9f the caribbean pirates odf the caribbean pirates ofd the caribbean pirates ocf the caribbean pirates ofc the caribbean pirates ovf the caribbean pirates ofv the caribbean pirates ogf the caribbean pirates ofg the caribbean pirates otf the caribbean pirates oft the caribbean pirates orf the caribbean pirates ofr the caribbean pirates of rthe caribbean pirates of trhe caribbean pirates of fthe caribbean pirates of tfhe caribbean pirates of gthe caribbean pirates of tghe caribbean pirates of ythe caribbean pirates of tyhe caribbean pirates of 6the caribbean pirates of t6he caribbean pirates of 5the caribbean pirates of t5he caribbean pirates of tghe caribbean pirates of thge caribbean pirates of tbhe caribbean pirates of thbe caribbean pirates of tnhe caribbean pirates of thne caribbean pirates of tjhe caribbean pirates of thje caribbean pirates of tuhe caribbean pirates of thue caribbean pirates of tyhe caribbean pirates of thye caribbean pirates of thwe caribbean pirates of thew caribbean pirates of thse caribbean pirates of thes caribbean pirates of thde caribbean pirates of thed caribbean pirates of thre caribbean pirates of ther caribbean pirates of th4e caribbean pirates of the4 caribbean pirates of th3e caribbean pirates of the3 caribbean pirates of the xcaribbean pirates of the cxaribbean pirates of the vcaribbean pirates of the cvaribbean pirates of the fcaribbean pirates of the cfaribbean pirates of the dcaribbean pirates of the cdaribbean pirates of the czaribbean pirates of the cazribbean pirates of the csaribbean pirates of the casribbean pirates of the cwaribbean pirates of the cawribbean pirates of the cqaribbean pirates of the caqribbean pirates of the caeribbean pirates of the careibbean pirates of the cadribbean pirates of the cardibbean pirates of the cafribbean pirates of the carfibbean pirates of the catribbean pirates of the cartibbean pirates of the ca5ribbean pirates of the car5ibbean pirates of the ca4ribbean pirates of the car4ibbean pirates of the caruibbean pirates of the cariubbean pirates of the carjibbean pirates of the carijbbean pirates of the carkibbean pirates of the carikbbean pirates of the caroibbean pirates of the cariobbean pirates of the car9ibbean pirates of the cari9bbean pirates of the car8ibbean pirates of the cari8bbean pirates of the carivbbean pirates of the caribvbean pirates of the carinbbean pirates of the caribnbean pirates of the carihbbean pirates of the caribhbean pirates of the carigbbean pirates of the caribgbean pirates of the caribvbean pirates of the caribbvean pirates of the caribnbean pirates of the caribbnean pirates of the caribhbean pirates of the caribbhean pirates of the caribgbean pirates of the caribbgean pirates of the caribbwean pirates of the caribbewan pirates of the caribbsean pirates of the caribbesan pirates of the caribbdean pirates of the caribbedan pirates of the caribbrean pirates of the caribberan pirates of the caribb4ean pirates of the caribbe4an pirates of the caribb3ean pirates of the caribbe3an pirates of the caribbezan pirates of the caribbeazn pirates of the caribbesan pirates of the caribbeasn pirates of the caribbewan pirates of the caribbeawn pirates of the caribbeqan pirates of the caribbeaqn pirates of the caribbeabn pirates of the caribbeanb pirates of the caribbeamn pirates of the caribbeanm pirates of the caribbeajn pirates of the caribbeanj pirates of the caribbeahn pirates of the caribbeanh oirates of the caribbean lirates of the caribbean -irates of the caribbean 0irates of the caribbean purates of the caribbean pjrates of the caribbean pkrates of the caribbean porates of the caribbean p9rates of the caribbean p8rates of the caribbean pieates of the caribbean pidates of the caribbean pifates of the caribbean pitates of the caribbean pi5ates of the caribbean pi4ates of the caribbean pirztes of the caribbean pirstes of the caribbean pirwtes of the caribbean pirqtes of the caribbean pirares of the caribbean pirafes of the caribbean pirages of the caribbean pirayes of the caribbean pira6es of the caribbean pira5es of the caribbean piratws of the caribbean piratss of the caribbean piratds of the caribbean piratrs of the caribbean pirat4s of the caribbean pirat3s of the caribbean piratea of the caribbean piratez of the caribbean piratex of the caribbean pirated of the caribbean piratee of the caribbean piratew of the caribbean pirates if the caribbean pirates kf the caribbean pirates lf the caribbean pirates pf the caribbean pirates 0f the caribbean pirates 9f the caribbean pirates od the caribbean pirates oc the caribbean pirates ov the caribbean pirates og the caribbean pirates ot the caribbean pirates or the caribbean pirates of rhe caribbean pirates of fhe caribbean pirates of ghe caribbean pirates of yhe caribbean pirates of 6he caribbean pirates of 5he caribbean pirates of tge caribbean pirates of tbe caribbean pirates of tne caribbean pirates of tje caribbean pirates of tue caribbean pirates of tye caribbean pirates of thw caribbean pirates of ths caribbean pirates of thd caribbean pirates of thr caribbean pirates of th4 caribbean pirates of th3 caribbean pirates of the xaribbean pirates of the varibbean pirates of the faribbean pirates of the daribbean pirates of the czribbean pirates of the csribbean pirates of the cwribbean pirates of the cqribbean pirates of the caeibbean pirates of the cadibbean pirates of the cafibbean pirates of the catibbean pirates of the ca5ibbean pirates of the ca4ibbean pirates of the carubbean pirates of the carjbbean pirates of the carkbbean pirates of the carobbean pirates of the car9bbean pirates of the car8bbean pirates of the carivbean pirates of the carinbean pirates of the carihbean pirates of the carigbean pirates of the caribvean pirates of the caribnean pirates of the caribhean pirates of the caribgean pirates of the caribbwan pirates of the caribbsan pirates of the caribbdan pirates of the caribbran pirates of the caribb4an pirates of the caribb3an pirates of the caribbezn pirates of the caribbesn pirates of the caribbewn pirates of the caribbeqn pirates of the caribbeab pirates of the caribbeam pirates of the caribbeaj pirates of the caribbeah irates of the caribbean prates of the caribbean piates of the caribbean pirtes of the caribbean piraes of the caribbean pirats of the caribbean pirate of the caribbean piratesof the caribbean pirates f the caribbean pirates o the caribbean pirates ofthe caribbean pirates of he caribbean pirates of te caribbean pirates of th caribbean pirates of thecaribbean pirates of the aribbean pirates of the cribbean pirates of the caibbean pirates of the carbbean pirates of the caribean pirates of the caribean pirates of the caribban pirates of the caribben pirates of the caribbea pirates of the caribbean iprates of the caribbean priates of the caribbean piartes of the caribbean pirtaes of the caribbean piraets of the caribbean piratse of the caribbean pirate sof the caribbean pirateso f the caribbean pirates fo the caribbean pirates o fthe caribbean pirates oft he caribbean pirates of hte caribbean pirates of teh caribbean pirates of th ecaribbean pirates of thec aribbean pirates of the acribbean pirates of the craibbean pirates of the cairbbean pirates of the carbibean pirates of the caribbean pirates of the caribeban pirates of the caribbaen pirates of the caribbena pirates of the caribbea n ppirates of the caribbean piirates of the caribbean pirrates of the caribbean piraates of the caribbean pirattes of the caribbean piratees of the caribbean piratess of the caribbean pirates of the caribbean pirates oof the caribbean pirates off the caribbean pirates of the caribbean pirates of tthe caribbean pirates of thhe caribbean pirates of thee caribbean pirates of the caribbean pirates of the ccaribbean pirates of the caaribbean pirates of the carribbean pirates of the cariibbean pirates of the caribbbean pirates of the caribbbean pirates of the caribbeean pirates of the caribbeaan pirates of the caribbeann pirates of the caribbean zat world's end azt world's end sat world's end ast world's end wat world's end awt world's end qat world's end aqt world's end art world's end atr world's end aft world's end atf world's end agt world's end atg world's end ayt world's end aty world's end a6t world's end at6 world's end a5t world's end at5 world's end at qworld's end at wqorld's end at aworld's end at waorld's end at sworld's end at wsorld's end at eworld's end at weorld's end at 3world's end at w3orld's end at 2world's end at w2orld's end at wiorld's end at woirld's end at wkorld's end at wokrld's end at wlorld's end at wolrld's end at wporld's end at woprld's end at w0orld's end at wo0rld's end at w9orld's end at wo9rld's end at woerld's end at woreld's end at wodrld's end at wordld's end at wofrld's end at worfld's end at wotrld's end at wortld's end at wo5rld's end at wor5ld's end at wo4rld's end at wor4ld's end at workld's end at worlkd's end at worpld's end at worlpd's end at worold's end at worlod's end at worlsd's end at worlds's end at worlxd's end at worldx's end at worlcd's end at worldc's end at worlfd's end at worldf's end at worlrd's end at worldr's end at worled's end at worlde's end at world'as end at world'sa end at world'zs end at world'sz end at world'xs end at world'sx end at world'ds end at world'sd end at world'es end at world'se end at world'ws end at world'sw end at world's wend at world's ewnd at world's send at world's esnd at world's dend at world's ednd at world's rend at world's ernd at world's 4end at world's e4nd at world's 3end at world's e3nd at world's ebnd at world's enbd at world's emnd at world's enmd at world's ejnd at world's enjd at world's ehnd at world's enhd at world's ensd at world's ends at world's enxd at world's endx at world's encd at world's endc at world's enfd at world's endf at world's enrd at world's endr at world's ened at world's ende zt world's end st world's end wt world's end qt world's end ar world's end af world's end ag world's end ay world's end a6 world's end a5 world's end at qorld's end at aorld's end at sorld's end at eorld's end at 3orld's end at 2orld's end at wirld's end at wkrld's end at wlrld's end at wprld's end at w0rld's end at w9rld's end at woeld's end at wodld's end at wofld's end at wotld's end at wo5ld's end at wo4ld's end at workd's end at worpd's end at worod's end at worls's end at worlx's end at worlc's end at worlf's end at worlr's end at worle's end at world'a end at world'z end at world'x end at world'd end at world'e end at world'w end at world's wnd at world's snd at world's dnd at world's rnd at world's 4nd at world's 3nd at world's ebd at world's emd at world's ejd at world's ehd at world's ens at world's enx at world's enc at world's enf at world's enr at world's ene t world's end a world's end atworld's end at orld's end at wrld's end at wold's end at word's end at worl's end at world's end at worlds end at world' end at world'send at world's nd at world's ed at world's en ta world's end a tworld's end atw orld's end at owrld's end at wrold's end at wolrd's end at wordl's end at world's end at world's end at worlds' end at world' send at world'se nd at world's ned at world's edn aat world's end att world's end at world's end at wworld's end at woorld's end at worrld's end at worlld's end at worldd's end at world's end at world''s end at world'ss end at world's end at world's eend at world's ennd at world's endd
Hard to believe, but it's been 19 years since adolescent girls around the world swooned at the sight of a muscle-bound Patrick Swayze lifting the lissome Jennifer Grey over his head before letting her plunge into a mosquito-infested pond in the Catskills.
Happily for romantic 13-year-old girls everywhere, "Step Up" has arrived, breathing somewhat stale air into an age-old story: Girl from the right side of the tracks meets boy from wrong side and a love of risque dance steps and tight clothing brings them together.
While predictability and occasionally wooden dialogue keep this from being a truly good movie, it's certainly entertaining enough to please its intended audience, and its wide-eyed belief in redemption through hard work is refreshingly optimistic.
Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum, who last appeared in "She's the Man") is a low-level hooligan, living with unscrupulous foster parents, stealing cars with his best friend Mac (Damaine Radcliff) and committing the occasional act of vandalism. It's that last talent that gets him 200 hours of community service at the Maryland School of the Arts (Baltimore's answer to "Fame"), where he's swept along a hallway that resembles a Renaissance Faire (wandering violinists playing Pachelbel's Canon, small groups of students harmonizing for no apparent reason). He quickly homes in on Nora Clark (Jenna Dewan, who miraculously has managed to salvage her career after starring in the unwatchable horror flick "Tamara"), a classically trained dancer/Type-A personality, who is anxiously perfecting her senior performance, which, we're reminded incessantly, is VERY IMPORTANT and will make or break her career.
Under the stern gaze of the school's humorless principal, Director Gordon (Rachel Griffiths, acting as if she's been hit in the back of the head with a frying pan and then pushed in front of the camera), Tyler falls under Nora's spell, seduced by her super sassy dance moves and the ineffable allure of trading in his baggy jeans for a nice pair of tights.
In the background, issues of class and race are raised, then more or less dropped. Beyond its central tenet (Work Hard and Don't Give Up), this movie doesn't do much philosophizing. Every character represents a kind of cliche: Tyler is the disillusioned kid who has issues with authority, Mac is the kid being raised by a harried and overworked single mom, Nora is the coddled but misunderstood product of her mother's middle-class expectations. The good news is that no one is free from the ravages of fate. It's just that people with more money can wear cuter outfits while fate is doing its thing.
Tatum and Dewan have a fine chemistry; Dewan seems to be a pretty good dancer and acquits herself respectably during the scenes that require "acting." Tatum, on the other hand, whose strongest asset appears to be his chiseled physique, doesn't seem to be acting so much as regurgitating, and he can be very difficult to understand.
"Step Up" could be called "Dirty Dancing Without the Pesky Morality Lesson," or "Footloose Without the Uptight Minister." Even "Flashdance Without the Welding Mask" works pretty well. From the over-the-head lift that convinces Nora that Tyler might have the goods to be her dance partner, to the dance scenes along Baltimore's gritty, industrial waterfront, it's hard to escape the nagging feeling that we've seen all of this before, albeit arranged slightly differently.
It's no accident that the credits for the movie are a Who's Who of dance movie alumni: Director Anne Fletcher choreographed "Bring It On"; screenwriter Duane Adler penned "Save The Last Dance"; and the movie was photographed by Michael Seresin, who shot "Fame."
Of course there's an upside to such a convergence: If you pool that much experience in one production, you're almost guaranteed a movie that's slick enough to overcome its own shortcomings and deliver a reasonably satisfying package. In that regard, "Step Up" doesn't disappoint.
astep up satep up zstep up sztep up xstep up sxtep up dstep up sdtep up estep up setep up wstep up swtep up srtep up strep up sftep up stfep up sgtep up stgep up sytep up styep up s6tep up st6ep up s5tep up st5ep up stwep up stewp up stsep up stesp up stdep up stedp up strep up sterp up st4ep up ste4p up st3ep up ste3p up steop up stepo up stelp up stepl up ste-p up step- up ste0p up step0 up step yup step uyp step hup step uhp step jup step ujp step iup step uip step 8up step u8p step 7up step u7p step uop step upo step ulp step upl step u-p step up- step u0p step up0 atep up ztep up xtep up dtep up etep up wtep up srep up sfep up sgep up syep up s6ep up s5ep up stwp up stsp up stdp up strp up st4p up st3p up steo up stel up ste- up ste0 up step yp step hp step jp step ip step 8p step 7p step uo step ul step u- step u0 tep up sep up stp up ste up stepup step p step u tsep up setp up stpe up ste pup stepu p step pu sstep up sttep up steep up stepp up step up step uup step upp
The jazzy music, saturated-to-bleeding colors, and even the credits font make it clear from the outset: Ocean's Thirteen is more variety show than heist thriller. The gang of thieves from Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve is re-assembled, and while their new scam is more of a group effort than the scattered riffing of Twelve, its building-block cons are as cool and varied as ever.
Returning to the stage, the Ocean crew: Rusty (Brad Pitt) puts on scraggly facial hair to play a seismologist. Linus (Matt Damon) prepares to seduce a casino employee (Ellen Barkin), a task that, he insists, requires a prosthetic nose. Basher (Don Cheadle) mostly minds a giant piece of construction equipment, but impersonates a motorcycle daredevil on the fly as an elaborate distraction. The brothers Malloy (Casey Affleck and Scott Caan) are off to Mexico. George Clooney's Billy Ocean, as usual, acts as ringleader, which means a lot of standing around looking fabulous in suits, as well as one spectacularly well-timed eyeroll.
The ostensible reason for these heist-themed skits is to fleece Vegas big-shot Willie Bank (Al Pacino). Bank has forced Reuben (Elliott Gould) out of plans for a flashy new casino/hotel, leaving Reuben physically and mentally hobbled, which doesn't sit right with his friends.
This sense of male loyalty and camaraderie explains away the missing love interests (Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones -- who, frankly, did no favors for the last sequel -- are mentioned obliquely but not seen). "It's not her fight," Ocean says early on, and he may as well be referring to the entire female gender. As breezy and larkish as this series wants to be, it's not above insisting that this time, it's personal.
Thus Ocean's Thirteen is framed as a revenge story, which nevertheless plays out more like a victory lap -- though what exactly the cast and crew have triumphed over, I'm not sure. Life, I guess; I'm not sure if you've heard this, but it turns out that Clooney, Pitt, and Damon are apparently hugely successful, attractive, and charming, and they all like each other a whole lot.
So maybe they've triumphed over potential jealousy, because I couldn't help but smile a whole lot while watching Ocean's Thirteen. The gags execute the clever trick of seeming like deadpan throwaways while showing up at regular, punctuated intervals. The big score turns out to be a misdirection; this film is almost entirely funny side business, compartmentalizing the nonsense that tangled up the otherwise amusing Twelve. Damon, so serious in most of his lead roles, is especially hilarious playing the frustrated little brother of the gang and breaking unspoken rules about keeping it cool and low-key.
In between laughs, we have director Steven Soderbergh shooting a Las Vegas awash in color -- reds and oranges that make the casino lighting look like a hellish (but bright) imitation of sunlight, the dark green of a security command center, and the rich blues of the sky above the strip. Like its predecessors, this is a great-looking jape (though not always a great-sounding one; with some of the dialogue flying too fast and mumbly over the zippy David Holmes score to process fully).
The recurring problem with making an Ocean's movie is the tactical deployment of a huge cast, and Thirteen is a bit too complacent to change that; Bernie Mac once again gets the short shrift, and Don Cheadle's character moments seem cobbled together from spare riffs. Clooney himself even spends some time on the sidelines.
The script doesn't find much room for new characters, either: While it's fun to watch Pacino restrain himself as Bank (he barely gives a shout the whole film), his role is so underwritten, even by the series' standards, that he essentially plays the crusty old dean of Las Vegas to our boys' fun-loving frat house -- though, in a neat bit of irony, it's the younger guys who casually mourn the tourist glitz of the new Vegas.
At one point, Clooney and Pitt go for a reflective little walk and ruminate over the way the town has changed over the years. It's a nice gesture, and Soderbergh shoots this quiet scene, as he does most others, with high style, but in the wake of Swingers and The Cooler, these sentiments are a little late to the after-party.
Beyond currency, Ocean's Thirteen is nowhere near as memorable as those Vegas chronicles, nor as the streamlined first film. But Soderbergh, surrounded by special-effects competition, makes the casualness work for him. Now that just about any second sequel is promoted as the capper of an epic trilogy, his willingness to simply do it once more with feeling is like a face full of air-conditioning.
Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof Movie Reviews
