Miss Pettigrew Will Leave You Smiling By Patrick Hickey Jr.

It is a rarity nowadays for a film to leave you smiling throughout. A forgotten gem it seems is the act of “classy� comedy, something actors such as Dean...
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Miss Pettigrew Will Leave You Smiling By Patrick Hickey Jr.

It is a rarity nowadays for a film to leave you smiling throughout. A forgotten gem it seems is the act of “classy� comedy, something actors such as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra made a career out of in what seems like hundreds of years ago. However, “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day,� directed by Bharat Nalluri [“The Crow: Salvation,� “Downtime�] is a film that would have fit in easily amongst the classic romance comedies of yesterday and is an equally as charming and fun endeavor today. However, it is on the weight of great performances by Frances McDormand and Amy Adams, that this film is a truly enjoyable one that will make you chuckle as much is it will pull at your heartstrings.

Playing the part of an out of work London governess before World War II, McDormand [“Almost Famous,� “Fargo�] takes her life, which has been quite conventional and boring to this point, into her own hands, eventually crossing paths with the charismatic, yet air-headed Adams [“Enchanted,� “Sunshine Cleaning�], who together make their dreams come true in one remarkable day.

It’s hard to imagine McDormand and Adams having such poignant on-screen chemistry, but after a few minutes of them interacting with one another on screen, it’s obvious. McDormand’s experience, well-roundedness and wit, combined with Adams’ charisma and good looks and you have a combination that is seemingly meant to be on screen together. Add in more than solid supporting roles by Ciaran Hands, Lee Pace, Tom Payne and Shirley Henderson and you have a deep cast of characters telling a great story.

Of all the characters though, it is Adams that truly steals the show. Much like her role in “Enchanted,� Adams plays an air-headed, idealistic beauty that is focused on making her dreams come true, her way. After this film, it’s obvious that Adams has this type of role nailed and is capable of playing much bigger roles. The question remains however if that will be the case. Nonetheless, simply having that question proposed shows just how solid she was in this feature.

Adding to list of things making this film a memorable one is the cinematography. Never for a second do you think that you are anywhere but 1940s London. As a matter of fact, after the film is over, you may have to take a few seconds to realize where you are. Every scene seems to be bursting with color that brings the best out of all the characters and places they go. Everywhere from the train station and the soup kitchen to the beautiful London flat where a majority of the film takes place is drenched in class, style and charm. Like a cherry on top of a fudge sundae, the look and feel of “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day� makes it that more fun to watch.

When it’s all said and done, this film is a sleeper hit that will remind older movie-goers of better days. Times when beautiful actresses didn’t have to shed their clothes to be popular and when it was natural for a star of a film to sing a little bit. Despite that, many real movie buffs will love the interaction between the characters and a endearing story that will leave a smile on their face for the rest of the day.

Spiderwick Chronicles Offers a Mixed Bag of Family Fun

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Over the past decade, the big wigs in Hollywood have decided to make a multifarious amount of family-oriented fantasy films. However, despite...
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Spiderwick Chronicles Offers a Mixed Bag of Family Fun

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Over the past decade, the big wigs in Hollywood have decided to make a multifarious amount of family-oriented fantasy films. However, despite the legion of films released within this new genre, most of them revel in mediocrity. For every “Chronicles of Narnia,� and “ Lemony Snicket� out there, there are dozens more that can’t cut the cinematic mustard.

Let’s just say that “The Spiderwick Chronicles,� directed by Mark Waters [“Mean Girls,� “Freaky Friday�] isn’t the type of film that is comparable to the upper-echelon films of the genre, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t an enjoyable 97-minute experience for some people.

Starring Freddie Highmore [“Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, “The Golden Compass] in a double-role as twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, “The Spiderwick Chronicles,� has plenty of things going for it, like a colorful cast of characters and solid special effects, they just aren’t in a large enough quantity to make you want to jump for joy.

For instance, the magical land the no one else can see in the film is an extremely colorful one. The whole idea [which is based on the book written by Holly Black] is an excellent one as well, but it’s not developed as much as a great film should be. There simply isn’t enough interaction between the rest of the world and the evil forces to make the movie-goer think that the threat being fought against is a serious one. You never get the feeling that the world really depends on the actions of Jared, Simon and their older sister, Mallory, played by Sarah Bolger [“Premonition,� “Tara Road�]. Instead, you can’t fight the feeling that everything is going to end up okay. Not exactly the right frame of mind to be in when watching a fantasy film.

The performance of Nick Nolte [“Hulk,� “Hotel Rwanda�] as the voice of the main baddy, Mulgarath, doesn’t do much to amplify the strong points of the film either. For a mystical being that is supposed to be leading a global coupe-de-tat, Mulgarath isn’t too intimidating. While his role in the film isn’t as important as Highmore’s or Bolger’s, having an impressive villain could have been the thing that got this film over the proverbial two-star hump it got itself in.

Unfortunately, the entire plot and story arc have similar problems as well. The film concludes with all the ends being tied up in a pretty little bow and doesn’t really leave anything for the imagination. Considering the fact that the whole object of a film such as this is to extend disbelief, always knowing that everything is going to be all right isn’t a good one. However, despite its lack of depth and story polish, “The Spiderwick Chronicles� has enough charming, witty and endearing parts in it that young children will beg to see it again and again. Adults however, will be satisfied with one viewing and will be left pondering what could have been, rather than accepting the film for what it really is: average, with promise.

Spiderwick Chronicles Offers a Mixed Bag of Family Fun

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Over the past decade, the big wigs in Hollywood have decided to make a multifarious amount of family-oriented fantasy films. However, despite...
[+] Read Full Review

Spiderwick Chronicles Offers a Mixed Bag of Family Fun

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Over the past decade, the big wigs in Hollywood have decided to make a multifarious amount of family-oriented fantasy films. However, despite the legion of films released within this new genre, most of them revel in mediocrity. For every “Chronicles of Narnia,� and “ Lemony Snicket� out there, there are dozens more that can’t cut the cinematic mustard.

Let’s just say that “The Spiderwick Chronicles,� directed by Mark Waters [“Mean Girls,� “Freaky Friday�] isn’t the type of film that is comparable to the upper-echelon films of the genre, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t an enjoyable 97-minute experience for some people.

Starring Freddie Highmore [“Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, “The Golden Compass] in a double-role as twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, “The Spiderwick Chronicles,� has plenty of things going for it, like a colorful cast of characters and solid special effects, they just aren’t in a large enough quantity to make you want to jump for joy.

For instance, the magical land the no one else can see in the film is an extremely colorful one. The whole idea [which is based on the book written by Holly Black] is an excellent one as well, but it’s not developed as much as a great film should be. There simply isn’t enough interaction between the rest of the world and the evil forces to make the movie-goer think that the threat being fought against is a serious one. You never get the feeling that the world really depends on the actions of Jared, Simon and their older sister, Mallory, played by Sarah Bolger [“Premonition,� “Tara Road�]. Instead, you can’t fight the feeling that everything is going to end up okay. Not exactly the right frame of mind to be in when watching a fantasy film.

The performance of Nick Nolte [“Hulk,� “Hotel Rwanda�] as the voice of the main baddy, Mulgarath, doesn’t do much to amplify the strong points of the film either. For a mystical being that is supposed to be leading a global coupe-de-tat, Mulgarath isn’t too intimidating. While his role in the film isn’t as important as Highmore’s or Bolger’s, having an impressive villain could have been the thing that got this film over the proverbial two-star hump it got itself in.

Unfortunately, the entire plot and story arc have similar problems as well. The film concludes with all the ends being tied up in a pretty little bow and doesn’t really leave anything for the imagination. Considering the fact that the whole object of a film such as this is to extend disbelief, always knowing that everything is going to be all right isn’t a good one. However, despite its lack of depth and story polish, “The Spiderwick Chronicles� has enough charming, witty and endearing parts in it that young children will beg to see it again and again. Adults however, will be satisfied with one viewing and will be left pondering what could have been, rather than accepting the film for what it really is: average, with promise.

Blurry Lines of Sight Tarnish a Solid ‘Vantage Point’

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

When the same story is told eight different times through the eyes of eight different people, one expects the story being told to...
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Blurry Lines of Sight Tarnish a Solid ‘Vantage Point’

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

When the same story is told eight different times through the eyes of eight different people, one expects the story being told to be filled with plenty of opinion, back story and detail. “Vantage Point,� however, directed by Pete Travis, who makes his big-screen directorial debut, lacks the feel of a film that attempts to pull off such a daunting task. Nonetheless, the film is still an entertaining watch and proves to be the movie that relights the star-power fire of Dennis Quaid, while giving Matthew Fox the versatility to be taken seriously in different types of roles.

In 2006, “Babel,� a film starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, was released and took a similar path as this picture. However, director Alejandro González Iñárritu was able to make each segment and narrative of the film feel different enough to captivate the audience and fill in the gaps of the story. What “Vantage Point� does is simply rehash the same story and provide a few more details than the last person was able to reveal. This slow-moving plot that ends with a happily-ever-after ending isn’t exactly going to win Travis any awards this year. Regardless of that, however, there are a few ingredients in the film’s clam chowder to make you reach for your spoon.

Quaid (“Flight of the Phoenix,� “Enemy Mine�) does a great job as Thomas Barnes, the jittery Secret Service agent with something to prove. If his subtle demeanor wasn’t enough to capture his cool, laid-back type of bravado, his wit and ability to clothesline people and Al Unser-like driving skills will. Simply put, this role is something new for Quaid, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing for him. He pulls off the never-say-die action hero better than actors half his age in this film and is one of the best reasons to see the feature.

The same can be said for heartthrob Mathew Fox, who’s known for his role on the TV mega-hit, “Lost.� Already armed with killer-good looks and a charisma that was probably responsible for landing him the role, Fox does a more than solid job as agent Kent Taylor. Rather than spoil the plot, let’s just say that Fox’s role definitely will shock fans of his work on “Lost� and will cast him in a different light in the future.

Add in solid supporting roles by Forrest Whitaker (“Ghost Dog,� “The Last King of Scotland�) and Sigourney Weaver (“Ghostbusters,� “Aliens�), and you have a cast that is capable of delivering a quality film. However, the talent in the film far outweighs the sum of the films parts, as the story isn’t nearly as deep and multilayered as you’d expect it to be, making it an adequate 90-minute experience, rather than a breathtaking one.

Austen’s Tale Retold, Sort Of

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

For all of you Jane Austen fans out there looking for the one movie to quench your need to find out everything you ever wanted to know about the amazing female...
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Austen’s Tale Retold, Sort Of

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

For all of you Jane Austen fans out there looking for the one movie to quench your need to find out everything you ever wanted to know about the amazing female author, it’s not going to be found in “Becoming Jane.� While you will have a good time sitting through the film, the feeling that it could have been something much more special is hard to avoid.

A more fictitious attempt to fill in the blanks of a woman’s life that has reveled in the unknown for quite sometime, writers Kevin Hood and Sarah Williams, both of whom made their big-screen writing debuts with this film, decided to take the film on a surreptitious journey through Austen’s writing career that eventually wound up focusing more on her desire to fall in love than anything else.

Making a huge social commentary on the rudimentary laws of inheritance in the 19th century, which forced young women to marry rich men to financially help their ailing families, Austen, played by Anne Hathaway [Devil Wears Prada, Princess Diaries] looks to find a man that will both satisfy her need for emotional and physical sustenance while helping her mother and father, played by James Crowell [Babe, The Green Mile] and Julie Walters [Harry Potter, Calendar Girls] pay the bills. However, in her attempt to do so, she falls in love with the charismatic and charming Tom Lefroy, played by James McAvoy [Chronicles of Narnia, Wimbledon], who indoctrinates her in the euphoric intoxication of love, with both of them breaking each others hearts numerous times in the process, all while traveling through some of the most gorgeous scenery in the United Kingdom. While a bit drawn out and tediously paced at times, this process however is where we see the meat of the action in “Becoming Jane� and is where we see the blooming of a beautiful on-screen chemistry between Hathaway and McAvoy that more than makes up for the ups and downs in the plot that may agitate some movie-goers.

However, the biggest problem in the film by far is its predictability. Everyone knows Austen dies alone at the age of 41 and having her come so close to love on so many different occasions with this one man that seems to have been made especially for her literally expends rational belief and patience. Trying perhaps to explain how an unmarried woman could write so passionately about love, “Becoming Jane,� does do a more than venerable job of fictitiously filling in the blanks of the great author’s life and putting her career in content, but falls flat on its Victorian face when trying to put everything together into something that is completely enjoyable. Never feeling as natural as the solid performances of Hathaway, McAvoy, Cromwell and Walters, “Becoming Jane� forces the viewer to suspend their belief in a setting that is realistic and vivid as can be, proving that great on-screen chemistry and beautiful cinematography can never make up for a mediocre script.

Fans of Carrey Will Find a Sleeper-Hit in ‘The Number 23’ By Patrick Hickey Jr. At first glance, Joel Schumacher’s “The Number 23� seems like a bland hybrid of successful movie genres, combining conspiracy...
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Fans of Carrey Will Find a Sleeper-Hit in ‘The Number 23’ By Patrick Hickey Jr. At first glance, Joel Schumacher’s “The Number 23� seems like a bland hybrid of successful movie genres, combining conspiracy theory elements from films such as “Seven� and “Saw,� while incorporating quick camera shots and flashback elements made famous in “Pulp Fiction� and “Fight Club.� However, after watching the film, it’s obvious that while “The Number 23� seems to be inspired from the success of other films in its genre, the way it achieves its success makes it completely original and equally as entertaining. Known for years as a comedic actor, Jim Carrey [The Majestic, Batman Forever] has proven time and time again that he can do a lot more than make people laugh. In “The Number 23,� Carrey plays the protagonist, Walter Sparrow and does an amazing job of portraying a normal every day Joe, to only find out his world is nothing like it seems. Helping create that notion of disbelief are both Virginia Madsen [Sideways, Dune] and Danny Houston [The Aviator, Marie Antoinette] who manage to give the film the brevity and wit that it needs to stand on its own. Madsen plays the concerned wife, Agatha, who stands by her husband during his horrific self-discovery and Houston is the suspiciously-concerned friend. Together with the stellar performance by Carrey, “The Number 23� has the talent on-screen to survive and entertain, but like most films Joel Schumacher directs, that doesn’t necessarily mean the movie has the luster and polish to be enjoyed by the masses. Fortunately for Schumacher, this doesn’t happen because the plot of “The Number 23� is well thought out, witty and is soaked with charisma. Seeing Carrey transform into an obsessed lunatic because of a book, to only see his whole world change because of it is an amazing experience that any fan of thrillers like “Seven� will surely enjoy. Throughout the film, while Carrey is obsessing over this number and what its purpose is in his life, the viewer will see that the number appears everywhere, in license plates on the cars passing by, on the clothes worn by extras, even on billboard signs, giving this huge conspiracy theory the biggest focus of the film. The successful way that Schumacher and cinematographer Matthew Libatique [Gothika, Inside Man] manage to incorporate the theory in every facet of the film make the story an entertaining one and one of the biggest reasons for its overall success. However, by the end of the film, one thing becomes apparent; this role was tailor made for Carrey. Utilizing his humor early in the film on a toned-down scale makes him a believable character and makes his plummet much more shocking and entertaining. Fans of his work may be a bit apprehensive to watch the film because they see Schumacher’s name in the directors credits, but have no fear, even Joel Schumacher can surprise us once in a while.

Ghost Rider Stumbles and Stalls Down Big-Screen Highway

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Corny, lame and uninteresting; definitely not the words one would associate with Marvel comics character the Ghost Rider. However, Mark...
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Ghost Rider Stumbles and Stalls Down Big-Screen Highway

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Corny, lame and uninteresting; definitely not the words one would associate with Marvel comics character the Ghost Rider. However, Mark Steven Johnson’s big-screen adaptation of the Spirit of Vengeance is an absolute joke, void of the darkness, charisma and intelligent storylines that made the series a cult classic. Not even the heaving bosoms of the luscious Eva Mendez can save the viewer from debauchery this film will induce upon them. Much like the rider’s penance stare, once you watch this film, you will never be the same again.

The biggest problem with Ghost Rider is that the story is extremely loose, practically void of a back story worth following or understanding for that matter. Rather than feeling like everything is happening for a reason in the film, you get the feeling that Johnson [Electra, Daredevil] sat down with Uwe Boll [director of atrocities like Blood Rayne and Alone in the Dark] and wrote a script under the influence of some kind of narcotic. That in all honesty is the only way a film can turn out this horribly.

Having Peter Fonda play the devil is another.

If that wasn’t enough, Nicolas Cage’s performance as Johnny Blake/Ghost Rider is laughable at best. Fans of the comic who were expecting a badass biker like Johnny Blaze or even a young rebel like Dan Ketch [the second Ghost Rider in the comic book series] will be sadly disappointed when they see Cage [World Trade Center, Leaving Las Vegas] eating jelly beans, listening to the Carpenters and talking like Elvis. In this day and age, it’s expected that directors and producers take creative liberties and change the title character to depict the type of movie they want to make. However, the changes made in this film make the character far less attractive, demonic and edgy, a far cry from the types of changes made to characters in other recent super-hero films such as Spiderman and the Punisher, where they were mainly superficial and the aura of the character was maintained.

However, despite the creative atrocities committed in this film, there is one amazing thing present and that is Eva Mendez. While her acting is a far cry from stellar in this film, she looks absolutely amazing and nails the buxom, super-hero love interest look to a T. That obviously has something to do with the fact that she’s wearing skin tight shirts and brassieres throughout the entire film, but there’s something else going on here as well. Her radiant looks aside, she provides this sub-par film with some of the only witty dialogue in the film, saying things such like, “Do you think I’m pretty?� If one was forced to answer such a question, their answer would undoubtedly be yes; however, if this film looked like anything, it would be an obese dog with no personality, thus ruining the glowing effect Mendez has on the camera.

Bottom line, stay away from this film and anything that is associated with it, except for Mendez. Anything this bad must be contagious and could ruin someone’s life [or Johnson’s career]. As far as Mendez is concerned however, it’s a risk worth taking.

Eragon Provides Ample Thrills in Solid Sci-Fi Adventure

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Considering the success films like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings have had over the past ten years, any Hollywood director would be...
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Eragon Provides Ample Thrills in Solid Sci-Fi Adventure

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Considering the success films like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings have had over the past ten years, any Hollywood director would be out of their minds if they didn’t snatch up every screenplay based on any successful fantasy novel they could. With that being said, it was only a matter of time until Christopher Paolini’s Eragon was translated to the big screen. The only question was how well it would be adapted to the big screen. Thankfully for fans of the novels, Eragon, while not being in the same league as the Harry Potter Series or Lord of the Rings, it’s a competent and enjoyable fantasy adventure that may remind many of the sleeper hit, Dragonheart.

Directed by Stefen Fangmeier [Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Dream Catcher] Eragon combines an endearing story with a cast of vibrant young actors such as Ed Speleers [who makes his big screen debut in Eragon] and Sienna Guillory [Resident Evil Apocalypse, Helen of Troy] with talented veteran names like Jeremy Irons [Dungeons & Dragons, Kingdom of Heaven] and Djimon Hounsou [Gladiator, Blood Diamond] that light up the screen and create enough atmosphere to make up for some noticeable holes in the story. Speaking of which, the script fails to provide enough background information for the movie-goer to get a firm grasp of the characters involved and really never takes the time to explain anything in great lengths [something that The Lord of the Rings did almost perfectly]. However, the performances of Irons and Guillory go to great lengths to provide drama and importance to a story that unfolds almost too quickly. At times, it almost feels like the characters have been thrust into situations and battles that haven’t been explained enough, making the viewer wonder why the battle is so important in the first place.

Despite this, the film’s star, Speleers and his dragon, Saphira, voiced by Rachel Weis [Constantine, The Mummy] form a charismatic and entertaining bond that manages to make up for some of the loose ends in the film and in the process make it an enjoyable fantasy adventure for all ages. Younger viewers will find themselves wanting to own their very own pet dragon, while older viewers will wonder how Irons managed to make himself into such an impressive hero after years of roles as the villain with the equally villainous voice, making it equally as memorable as it is satisfying.

It may not have the production values of some of the epic fantasy films that have appeared in theaters over the past decade, but if given a chance, Eragon can prove to be an entertaining film for both fans of the novel and newcomers alike.

Invincible Scores Big At Box Office

By Patrick Hickey Jr

Combining a solid soundtrack and heartfelt performances from Mark Wahlberg [Rockstar, Boogey Nights] and Greg Kinnear [Someone Like You, As Good As It Gets],...
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Invincible Scores Big At Box Office

By Patrick Hickey Jr

Combining a solid soundtrack and heartfelt performances from Mark Wahlberg [Rockstar, Boogey Nights] and Greg Kinnear [Someone Like You, As Good As It Gets], “Invincible� is this generations version of “Rocky,� telling the remarkable story of former Philadelphia Eagle Vince Papale with realism, energy and compassion.

Produced by Mark Ciardi [Miracle, The Rookie], “Invincible� does a wonderful job of depicting the downtrodden Philadelphia area during the 1970’s, combining dark and dirty city landscapes and muddy bar scenes and factories, that capture the desperation of Papale and the people around him that are anxiously awaiting for a hero to get them through tough times. Playing the reluctant hero is Wahlberg, who many will notice has bulked up considerably for this part and fits the role of the rough, but caring Papale to a t. Trying desperately to make something of his life after his wife leaves him, the substitute teacher/ bar tender tries to make the team he grew up rooting for after new coach, Dick Vermeil [played by Kinnear] announces open tryouts.

Paralleling each other the entire film, Papale and Vermeil both have something to prove and lean on one another to accomplish their goals, inducing many memorable moments that are sure to have football fans and movie-goers alike on the edge of their seats. In addition to Wahlberg and Kinnear’s solid performances, Elizabeth Banks and Kevin Conway round out the acting in this film extremely well, providing comedy and sincerity with great performances as Papale’s girlfriend and father. While the cinematography and acting in “Invincible� is something to behold, the musical score adds depth and familiarity to a film that was already amazing. The opening scene of the film fuses Jim Croce’s “I Got A Name� with the dark, dismal streets of Philadelphia, making it one of the best introductions to any movie in quite some time. Doby Gray, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad, and Rod Stewart all make appearances on the soundtrack as well, making the music in the film just as strong as the cinematography and acting.

Overall, “Invincible� is a sure-fire hit at the box office that is destined for big time sales at theaters and on DVD. Disney may not be able to cut the mustard with their animated pictures anymore, but with this film, they have proven once again that they’re slowly becoming the cat’s meow as far as sports-drama’s are concerned.

The Nightmare Before Christmas Is Back, This Time In 3-D

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Originally released in 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas quickly became a cult-classic, setting a standard in stop-motion animation and...
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The Nightmare Before Christmas Is Back, This Time In 3-D

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Originally released in 1993, The Nightmare Before Christmas quickly became a cult-classic, setting a standard in stop-motion animation and producing legions of devoted fans in the process, with many of them born after the movies release that memorized every line and song in the film and prayed for the day when they could see the film on the big screen. Now, some thirteen years later, Tim Burton’s crowning achievement is back in theaters, this time in 3-D, making it a must-see for any loyal fan and despite a few noticeable changes, is a great way for anyone else to be introduced to the film.

Fans of the film that have seen it numerous times will be the first to tell you that this is a much prettier, vibrant and livelier version of the original picture. The original film’s palette of color consisted mainly of black, black and more black, with very few instances of color, except for Christmas town and the lair of the evil Oogie Boogie. This time around however, the film has been engulfed with color in every place they could add it without drastically changing the tone of the picture; everywhere from Jack Skellington’s teeth, which have turned a slight yellow from the perfect whites he sported in the original, to the clothes of all the monsters, which have been brightened up as well. While ardent fans may consider this a detriment to the film, believing that nothing should have been changed, the brighter colors help each character stand out more in 3-D, making the picture a true work of three dimensions, rather than a quick project that is void of any original creativity. In addition to the look of the film being slightly changed to maximize its quality in 3-D, the score and sound of the picture has also been optimized, making everything, including all the great music, sound clearer and sharper, giving life to the smaller characters in the film, thus helping make an already great movie almost a work of art that stood the test of time.

With these changes implemented in this version of the film, The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D is a must-see for anyone that has always wished to take off their head and recite Shakespearian quotation or those as well that have always felt the need to scream at the fury of such recitations. However, those who have never seen the movie before will also enjoy it immensely due to its great story and unrivaled charm.

Jackass Sequel Does Original Justice

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

It may have taken almost five years for a sequel to the original cult-classic Jackass to hit theaters, but if the reception the film has gotten its first week...
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Jackass Sequel Does Original Justice

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

It may have taken almost five years for a sequel to the original cult-classic Jackass to hit theaters, but if the reception the film has gotten its first week and a half in theatres is any indication, it was well worth the wait. Raking in over $29 million dollars in its first 10 days at the box-office, “Jackass: Number Two� is a blast for anyone who appreciates the hard work that goes into a great prank or anyone who’s in need of a laugh. Easily outclassing its predecessor in terms of mainstream appeal and comedic genius, this film will have you gagging in disgust and laughing in delight more times than you ever thought possible before entering the theater.

Despite being close to their thirties, or in the case of Johnny Knoxville, Evan Lacy, Jason Acuna [Wee-Man] and Steve-O, closer to their mid-thirties and almost forties, the cast of “Jackass: Number Two� still have the capacity to go all out and do the crazy things that make a movie like this so funny, including drinking Horse Semen and pouring bottles of beer in places on the human body where it was never intended to go.

Much like the first film, “Jackass: Number Two� is filled with over-the-top stunts and pranks that border on the psychopathic. Throughout the film, many viewers will ask themselves why anyone in their right mind would perform half the stunts seen in the movie, while the rest of the audience will be too busy laughing and spitting up soda and various food products to care.

While many critics ripped this film due to it’s lack of depth, brevity and overall character [Mainly Jennifer Reaves from the Chicago Tribune who said, "...the movie never deviates from its sole purpose: making the audience wish it was deaf, blind or, even better, not seeing this movie."], they failed to recognize the fact that this movie is supposed to be as dumb, gross and silly as humanely possible; this is what one comes to expect in a Jackass film. No one, regardless of their lack of intellect, pays 11 bucks to see a Jackass movie and expects to see an Oscar-winning performance; that’s like asking a teenager not to fall asleep while watching an Oliver Stone movie.

In the end, those looking for a film to shut their brain off to and enjoy for the sole purpose of meaningless laughter need to look no further. Those looking for an intense story, filled with intricate plot twists however, will be forced to make it a blockbuster night.

Everyone’s Hero Strikes Out Swinging

By Patrick Hickey Jr

Over the past few years, there have been a slew of computer animation companies that have tried to make big bucks off the success of movies like Shrek,...
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Everyone’s Hero Strikes Out Swinging

By Patrick Hickey Jr

Over the past few years, there have been a slew of computer animation companies that have tried to make big bucks off the success of movies like Shrek, Toy Story and The Incredibles. Most often than not, these films, while displaying beautiful animation, fail to produce the solid stories that the successful movies in the genre are known for.

Such is the unfortunate case with “Everyone’s Hero.� While its lighthearted attempted to educate the younger generation about old school baseball doesn’t fail miserably, there aren’t enough memorable moments to hook either the children watching it or their older siblings or parents that get stuck paying their way into the theatre.

Centering on the life of a young Bronx-Bomber fan named Yankee Irving in the mid 1920’s, played by Jake T. Austin [Ant Bully], “Everyone’s Hero� is a tale of imagination and baseball history. Joining Irving is his talking baseball named Screwie, played by Rob Reiner [All in the Family, the Majestic] who together, must bring Darlin’, Babe Ruth’s talking baseball bat, played by Whoopi Goldberg [Girl Interrupted, Rat Race], back to the Yankee slugger in time for the last game of the World Series against the Chicago Cubs.

While the story is helped along by the comic relief of Reiner, there aren’t enough witty comments from him to keep adults awake during the film. Despite the fact that the movie is rated G, more often than not, viewers will be confused as to what age group directors Christopher Reeve, Colin Brady and Dan St. Pierre were actually marketing this film towards. Children will find the slapstick comedy throughout the film entertaining for a while, but will find it forgettable by the film’s end. In the end, the baseball nostalgia emanating from all corners of this film is obviously a treat for older viewers, but younger movie-goers looking for something along the lines of “Finding Nemo� will be sadly disappointed.

Babel’s Rich Story Wins Over Audience

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Usually, when one decides to venture to a movie theater, they tend to either look to attain a cheap laugh or to be scared out of their pants. It...
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Babel’s Rich Story Wins Over Audience

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Usually, when one decides to venture to a movie theater, they tend to either look to attain a cheap laugh or to be scared out of their pants. It seems the art of great storytelling has been lost from the imaginations of modern movie makers in an attempt to cash in comic book inspired or animated movies that always pull in huge audiences.

However, there is one film this holiday season that manages to tell a phenomenal story and doesn’t feature any animated penguins or English double agents. “Babel,� directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, shares the story of a few families interlocked in one unbelievable tragedy, pulling no punches in telling this remarkably touching and deep tale of circumstance.

The single element that is responsible for Babel’s depth and richness are the many twists and turns that envelop the plot development of this film [Those familiar with films like Crash and Pulp-Fiction will feel right at home because of this]. As a matter of fact, sometimes it feels that “Babel� could have been four separate films, due to the amount of brevity, intrigue and drama each lend to the entire plot as a whole.

Also helping the plot development are solid performances by Hollywood big-wigs Brad Pitt [Seven, Fight Club] and Cate Blanchett [Lord of the Rings, The Aviator] who play a troubled American married couple on vacation in Morocco that are brought to the brink of disaster to only find themselves more in love with each other than ever before. Despite the performances of Pitt and Blanchett however, Rinko Kikuchi steals the hearts of the audience as the young Chieko, a deaf/mute Japanese teenager trying to find herself in a world that can’t accept her for who she is. This ability to have such a diverse cast in various locations all over the world also lends to the film’s quality and in the process, gives every viewer watching something they can relate to and are interested in.

Simply put, films like this don’t come around often and because of that, “Babel� is easily one of the best films this year. The acting is great and the plot is so strong and heartfelt that many may find themselves going to the theater to see it again. Those looking for a great movie that will have them talking at the water cooler the next day need to look no further; Babel will make you think more than any other film this year and will make you wonder why more movies aren’t made the same way.

Happy Feet’s Charm Doesn’t Solve the Problem of Shallow Story

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Extremely cute, yet eventually forgettable; those will be your initial feelings after watching “Happy...
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Happy Feet’s Charm Doesn’t Solve the Problem of Shallow Story

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Extremely cute, yet eventually forgettable; those will be your initial feelings after watching “Happy Feet,� the newest animated film from Warner Bros. that features A-list voices with a D- story. While there are plenty of giggles to be had during the course of the film, most of them will be had by the younger audience attending, leaving the older viewers with a mixture of slight smiles and sighs of disappointment by the film’s end.

Despite that disappointment however, one would have to have a pretty cold heart to say that the world of Happy Feet isn’t an adorable one. The closest thing it could be compared to in real life would have to be either finding a puppy under your Christmas tree or even better, finding two. Yes, it’s that cute. Regardless of its aesthetic appeal however, the movie is lacking something to tie it all together, most obvious, a deep and engaging story.

It’s not that Happy Feet is a bad film, because it’s not. From start to finish, the film is sprinkled with charm, charisma and wit; however, there just isn’t enough to keep adult audiences watching. For instance, while Elijah Wood [Lord of the Rings, Sin City] puts in a solid performance as the voice of the main character, Mumbles, Robin Williams [Dead Poets Society, Robots] steals the show as Ramon, Lovelace and Cletus, but isn’t around enough to keep the laughs coming on a consistent basis.

Instead, the movie flops around, concerned with following Mumbles on his boring journey and achieving the ever so important “happy ending� [making it feel generic by the end], and fails to focus on the relationships between these gorgeous little penguins that are witty, charismatic and cool; all at the same time.

Much like Everyone’s Hero and Over the Hedge, Happy Feet is a prime example of Hollywood spending too much time getting A-list talent and not enough on writing a story that everyone can enjoy. The kids will love it, simply because of the lush environment and likeable characters featured throughout, but adults and teenagers will leave disappointed and go home looking for an old copy of Finding Nemo or Monsters Inc to get their animation fix.

Saw III Slices and Dices Its Way to the Top

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, deprived from human contact the past three years, you know that the Saw series is without a doubt the...
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Saw III Slices and Dices Its Way to the Top

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, deprived from human contact the past three years, you know that the Saw series is without a doubt the hottest horror movie franchise in Hollywood today. Combining thriller and horror movie elements with gruesome depictions of blood and pain, Saw is one of the few horror films left that can scare its viewers and have them clenching their stomachs in disgust at the same time.

Considering this, Saw III continues to give viewers what they want, while shedding light on some back story that was never mentioned in the previous films, thus making Saw III a solid addition to the franchise and a film that can stand firmly on its own two feet.

Known for playing “games� with people that don’t appreciate their lives, Jigsaw, played by Tobin Bell [Saw, Saw II] must not only find a way to save his own life, but must try and continue his legacy by teaching Amanda, played by Shawnee Smith [Party Crashers, The Island], the ways of pain and torture that have taken control of his life.

However, Amanda is a far cry away from her mentor Jigsaw and feels that murder is a better way of handling her victims than pain and torture. This creates a much darker and gruesome aura around Saw III when comparing it to the previous films in the series and gives it some stand-alone versatility in the process. Speaking of versatility in the film, the performances of supporting actors Angus Macfadyen [Braveheart] and Bahar Soomekh [Crash] add a flavor and depth to the film that hasn’t been seen since Cary Elwes and Ken Leung’s performances in the first installment of the film. This ability to take advantage of the sudden twists and turns the series is known for, while maintaining a constant level of good actors on screen, gives Saw III a bit more of an edge when it’s compared to it predecessors. In the end, there’s more blood and guts in this film than a vampire could throw a hat at, while the on-screen talent adds to the terrifying and thrilling plot, making Saw III a worthy edition to the series that fans of the previous films will surely enjoy.

Grudge II, a Mediocre Fright-Fest at Best

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

When one usually thinks of The Grudge II’s executive producer, Sam Raimi, they either think of the nonstop action of the recent Spiderman films...
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Grudge II, a Mediocre Fright-Fest at Best

By Patrick Hickey Jr.

When one usually thinks of The Grudge II’s executive producer, Sam Raimi, they either think of the nonstop action of the recent Spiderman films he produced, or the scary, yet witty storylines of the Evil Dead films. Unfortunately for movie-goers, The Grudge II has neither. The movie is so bad that Sam Raimi may want to take this film off his resume.

Taking place after the end of the first film, The Grudge II does succeed in the sense that it uncovers some very interesting back story. However, the acting of Amber Tamblyn [The Ring, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants] and Edison Chen is rather flat and equally as boring, provoking nothing but yawns and sighs of frustration.

The supporting cast isn’t nearly as bad, powered by Jennifer Beals [Flashdance], who still looks amazing nearly 25 years after her first movie appearance and former Soap Opera star Christopher Cousins. However, it isn’t long until the storyline ruins their solid performances as well, leaving one to think what the director of this film, Takashi Shimizu was thinking.

Considering the horrid starring performances, one would obviously expect the storyline to suffer as well and it does. Many fans of the first film will enjoy the fact that they now understand the story a little better, but will be looking for something much more potent as far as the structure of the film is concerned and will be horrendously disappointed my the film’s end, feeling so emotionally exhausted by the verboseness of it all that they wish the ghost would kill them instead of everyone else.

However, the biggest ingredient in the flopping of this sequel isn’t the haphazard starring performances or the spotty storyline that constantly jumps from one place to another [not allowing the viewer to get a grasp of what’s going on], it’s the fact that the movie is not scary at all. The first film had its fair share of frightful moments, but Grudge II is completely void of them and in the end, that’s what hurts the film the most. Fans of the first film will enjoy the attention paid to the origins of the story, but will nevertheless be frustrated and appalled at the quality of this film, wishing they never paid to see it at all.

‘Batman Begins’ is a Great Place to Start

By Patrick Hickey Jr

Finally the big wigs in Hollywood have gotten the Gotham Knight right. “Batman Begins� combines an all-star cast, stellar...
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‘Batman Begins’ is a Great Place to Start

By Patrick Hickey Jr

Finally the big wigs in Hollywood have gotten the Gotham Knight right. “Batman Begins� combines an all-star cast, stellar fighting scenes and special effects with a deep and intricate storyline, making “Batman Begins� the best big screen adaptation of the caped crusader ever.

What makes “Batman Begins� such a fantastic movie is that for the first time, the story of Bruce Wayne takes center stage and is finally explained in a manner that is extremely enjoyable and thought provoking. Blaming himself for his parents’ death, Bruce Wayne played by Christian Bale (American Psycho) takes it upon himself to clean up the city his parents couldn’t. After a halfhearted attempt to kill his parents’ murderer, Wayne travels to the Himalayan Mountains, where he crosses paths and eventually trains with Ducard, Ra’s Al Ghul and the League of Shadows. Ducard, played by Liam Neeson (Star Wars Episode I, Gangs of New York) teaches Wayne to eliminate his fear and in the process makes Wayne a true warrior, immune to fear and corruption. Neeson sparkles as a master of the unknown and teaches the young and stubborn Wayne everything he needs to become what the Gotham Knight embodies.

Soon after his training is complete, Wayne finds out the League of Shadows is attempting to destroy Gotham City, and is asked to join in the attempt. Wayne then refuses to join the League of Shadows and sets fire to their training center. Escaping the burning building and saving the life of his mentor, Ducard, Wayne then heads back home to Gotham to prepare for the imminent attack. Upon arriving home, Wayne crosses paths with the Scarecrow, played by Ireland’s own Cillian Murphy (Cold Mountain) who unknown to Batman, is working for Ducard and the League of Shadows.

Any other Batman movie would have the majority of the story revolve around the villain, and despite a solid performance by Murphy as the deranged and maniacal Scarecrow, the story really doesn’t need a great villain in order to succeed. This time around there’s no Mr. Freeze with an Austrian Accent or a ditsy Batgirl that seems to just take up space. Director Christopher Nolan (Insomnia, Momento) has finally given comic book fans and movie buffs what they’ve always wanted, a first hand glimpse into the mind of Batman that offers the hard and edgy sense of reality that one would expect from a Quentin Tarantino movie. Bale shines as the young Batman who must control his anger in defending the city he loves, while simultaneously leading a life as a rich playboy. It’s really entertaining to see how well Bale makes the transition from a filthy-rich bachelor swimming in restaurant pools with European models, to the mysterious and brooding Batman. Michael Caine (The Italian Job, Austin Powers) does a fantastic job as Alfred Pennyworth, Wayne’s butler and best friend. The relationship between the two characters is enhanced by great chemistry between Bale and Caine that will definitely benefit future installments of the series. Gary Oldman (Dracula, The Fifth Element) and Morgan Freeman (Kiss the Girls, The Shawshank Redemption) also provide stellar performances as Jim Gordon and Lucius Fox. Despite some horrible reviews from critics, Katie Holmes is a believable Rachel Dawes and does a solid job as the young Bruce Wayne’s love interest. While her performance may not win her awards any time soon, her appearance in the movie does not hurt the overall product one bit.

Anyone looking to see a great summer movie, regardless of his/her interest in the caped crusader or not, needs to look no further. Comic book fans will rejoice in the realm of darkness and despair Christopher Nolan has created called Gotham City, while movie buffs that were turned off by Joel Schumacher’s renditions of the Gotham Knight will wonder why “Batman Begins� didn’t come out a long time ago.

“Fantastic Four’ Has All The Right Pieces In Place
By Patrick Hickey Jr

Maybe it’s me, but there sure have been a lot of comic-inspired movies the past few years. While most of them have been solid...
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“Fantastic Four’ Has All The Right Pieces In Place
By Patrick Hickey Jr

Maybe it’s me, but there sure have been a lot of comic-inspired movies the past few years. While most of them have been solid adaptations, every time a new comic-inspired film comes through the hopper I hope and pray it’s not another “Catwoman�.

While the latest version of “Fantastic Four� (Anyone remember the crappy 1994 B-movie version where The Thing looked like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?) isn’t the most faithful concoction of the genius created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee nearly 45 years ago, there’s enough similarity to keep old fans of the F4 coming back for more, while at the same time giving new fans of the series something worth watching.

The thing that really keeps this ship aboard is the relationship between Ben “The Thing� Grimm and Johnny “The Human Torch� Storm, played by Michael Chiklis (“The Shield�, “The Commish�) and Chris Evans (“Cellular�, “Not Another Teen Movie�).

The relationship between Grimm and Storm is the kind of big-brother-esque relationship that really sets the Fantastic Four apart from other super-hero teams out there. In the comics, the F4 could save the world a thousand times over and Johnny would still have something smart to say to Ben. To see this portrayed so fluidly into the script of the movie definitely captured the essence of these two very important characters.

Despite the fact that in the comic Sue Storm is a good 10 years older than her younger brother Johnny; you’d have to be a huge Jessica Alba hater not to think she did a solid job as the “Invisible Girl�. Again writers Michael France and Mark Frost kept the motherly influence of Sue Storm in this film while casting directors Heike Brandstatter, Nancy Klopper and Coreen Mayrs decided that the brunette vixen Alba would work and strangely, it does. Alba looks like she was poured into the blue Fantastic Four outfit, giving male fans of the series, some serious eye candy. Alicia Masters, played by Kerry Washington (“Save The Last Dance�, “Ray�), is a very good looking woman as well, and has the positive attitude that the heart broken Thing desperately needs after his wife has left him.

Reed Richards, played by the English born Ioan Gruffudd, (“Black Hawk Down�, “102 Dalmatians�) proves to be the Mr. Fantastic that everyone wants to see: smart, resourceful and always loving his Susan. Their relationship, while not playing a pivotal role in the film, does put a new twist on their situation and is enjoyable to watch.

The villain chosen for this film, none other than the infamous Victor Von Doom, played by Julian McMahon (“Nip and Tuck�, “Charmed�) provides movie goers with the person you love to hate. McMahon does a great job of being the thorn on the side of the F4. While the script didn’t stay as faithful to the comic as far as his origins are concerned, McMahon still does a good job in just being a strong villain for the team to vanquish. McMahon’s performance may be extremely underrated as well, considering the fact that if Doom was played by someone who couldn’t handle the part, the plot would go in the toilet, and thankfully it doesn’t.

In the end, a decent story and decent acting is fine tuned immensely because the right people were playing the right roles. Take Chiklis, Evans, McMahon, Gruffudd and Alba out of this movie and you have no comic relief, no action scenes, no crazy villain and no eye candy. Fantastic Four is a perfect example that sometimes a great script doesn’t make a movie good, but actors given the right opportunity to shine, do.

Despite Initial Charm, “The Brothers Grimm� Provides Few Memorable Moments
By Patrick Hickey Jr

Uninspired, mediocre and decent; all of these words can describe Matt Damon and Heath Ledger’s new...
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Despite Initial Charm, “The Brothers Grimm� Provides Few Memorable Moments
By Patrick Hickey Jr

Uninspired, mediocre and decent; all of these words can describe Matt Damon and Heath Ledger’s new fantasy/comedy, “The Brothers Grimm�. While it has a few entertaining scenes and Damon and Ledger’s on-screen chemistry is apparent, “The Brother’s Grimm doesn’t attach itself to a genre in the worst way; making viewers confused to either be scared at “The Brothers Grimm� or laugh at it.

Damon and Ledger play Will and Jacob Grimm, masters of the unknown … well sort of. The Grimm brothers have a talent for tricking the townspeople they encounter on their journeys into thinking their towns are enchanted with evil spirits and charge large sums of money to get rid of the evil doers. The first 20 minutes of the movie highlight their knack for recreating the unknown, proving the brothers are an 18th century version of Spielberg and Lucas.

It’s not until the French government finds out what their up to when they force the brothers to catch someone whom they believe is up to the same games as they are. What unfolds is the brothers’ actualization of the unknown things in the world, with Jacob Grimm embracing the unknown to the fullest and saving the day and the life of Angelica, played by Lena Headey (The Cave, The Devils Advocate) who helps Jacob and Will find out the truth about the town and her “cursed� bloodline who are being secretly controlled by a 500 year old queen, played by the extremely vivacious Monica Bellucci (The Matrix, Tears of the Sun).

Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean, Ronin) and Peter Stormare ( Minority Report, Constantine) provide some laughs as Delatombe and Cavaldi turning in solid performances but not even that can shake the confusion this picture creates. The reason why “The Brothers Grimm� doesn’t strike gold at the box office is simple; it doesn’t set itself apart from other films in its genre. The special effects aren’t up to par with “Harry Potter�, its production value isn’t anywhere near “Lord of the Rings� and while there are some funny scenes in the movie, there aren’t enough in the film to make the movie a great fantasy/comedy picture.

Taken at the sum of its parts, “The Brothers Grimm� is a decent movie with good on-screen chemistry between its two stars that is worth watching. When compared to the bevy of great Sci-Fi fantasy movies out on DVD right now however, “The Brothers Grimm� doesn’t add anything new to the genre and despite the few smiles it may induce, it isn’t worth the price of admission.

The Corpse Bride Shines With A Witty and Heartwarming Story

By Patrick Hickey Jr It’s been almost 15 years since Tim Burton created the stop-motion classic “The Nightmare before Christmas�, a film that...
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The Corpse Bride Shines With A Witty and Heartwarming Story

By Patrick Hickey Jr It’s been almost 15 years since Tim Burton created the stop-motion classic “The Nightmare before Christmas�, a film that mystified the imaginations of millions of children and adults with a great soundtrack and beautiful animation. Since its release, the cult following that fell in love with “The Nightmare before Christmas� wondered when Burton would work his magic with stop-motion animation once again, they now have their wish.

“The Corpse Bride�, while showing off the huge advancements in stop-motion technology over the past 15 years, doesn’t have the same charm that Jack Skellington and “The Nightmare before Christmas� did. The music, composed by Danny Elfman, the man responsible for composing the entire score of “The Nightmare before Christmas� and countless other Hollywood blockbusters, just doesn’t recreate the magic that was apparent in Burton’s first animated classic.

This in itself may turn off some die-hard fans of “The Nightmare before Christmas�, but that’s only because “The Corpse Bride� is a different type of film. While it’s apparent from the beginning that this is a type of spin off the same universe that Burton created in “The Nightmare before Christmas�, it’s not nearly as dark and is much wittier and heart warming and as a result is a lot of fun to watch. The story revolves around Victor Van Dort, voiced by Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean, From Hell). Van Dort is nervously stuck in the middle of an arranged marriage that will give his parents access to the upper-tier of society that they have always wanted to be a part of. Van Dort is first reluctant, but after meeting his fiancée, Victoria Everglot, voiced by Emily Watson (Red Dragon, Punch-Drunk Love) falls in love at first sight.

Now overcome with nervousness, Van Dort fails to memorize his vows at the wedding rehearsal, and is deemed unworthy of marriage until he can remember his vows. Van Dort then walks into the forest, trying desperately to recite his vows with utter perfection. The good news is that yes, Van Dort recites his vows perfectly, the bad news is he accidentally places his fiancées wedding ring on what he believes is a tree branch that turns out to be the dead body of the Corpse Bride, voiced by Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).What ensues is a fight for Van Dort’s love between his lovely fiancée and the heart broken but equally as beautiful in her own way Corpse Bride. Those with a penchant for great animation will find that this movie is a shining example of the beauty of stop-motion animation. Those looking for movie that is equally enjoyable to watch and look at will not be disappointed either. For what it’s worth, “The Corpse Bride� may not have the soundtrack and charm of “The Nightmare before Christmas�, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining and a ball to watch.

“Sin City� Proves To Be This Springs Guilty Box Office Pleasure

By Patrick Hickey

Ask any true comic book fanatic what the “Sin City� graphic novel series represents and they’ll...
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“Sin City� Proves To Be This Springs Guilty Box Office Pleasure

By Patrick Hickey

Ask any true comic book fanatic what the “Sin City� graphic novel series represents and they’ll say it’s without a doubt one of the most underappreciated and thought provoking graphic novels ever. Written by Frank Miller, “Sin City� never strays too far away from its comic book roots and takes full advantage of the great story it was based on. Never before has any comic-inspired movie stayed this close to the work it was based on.

Frank Miller, the writer and artist of “Sin City� graphic novels, who also directs this film alongside Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, is a true pioneer of the comic business with over 30 years of accolades. Miller is probably best known for single handedly bringing the Daredevil, Spiderman, and Batman comics back from near cancellations with his dark and explosive style; all at different points in his career. Those still unfamiliar with Miller’s work should also know that he created the heroine Electra, which a hit movie was loosely based on not too long ago starring Jennifer Garner. The film adaptation of the graphic novel series “Sin City� screams Quentin Tarantino from the get-go, as fans of the “Pulp Fiction�, “Reservoir Dogs�, and “Kill Bill� movies will feel right at home with the “story within a story� telling and the frequent amount of irony and amazing fight scenes that “Sin City� have been sprinkled throughout. Be warned though, some scenes are not for the squeamish and are full of blood and mature themes that some may find politically incorrect and overly edgy. That being considered, “Sin City� accomplishes everything it sets out to do and then some by recreating the very same environment that made the graphic novel series a cult-classic on the big screen.

Aside from the amount of great action scenes throughout “Sin City�, the best reason to go see this movie is the myriad of visual effects through the movie. The movie plays games with your eyes in ways never thought possible before, as it was filmed in a semi- black and white state with vibrant colors sneaking their way in throughout the picture. Certain moments you’ll be sure you’re watching a black and white movie, while at others you’ll think the directors dropped the film reel in a bucket full of “Skittles�. “Sin City� features an all-star cast, with the likes of Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson, Benicio Del Toro, Devon Aoki, Mickey Rourke, Michael Madsen, and Britney Murphy all giving stellar performances. Fans of the comic will scream in delight seeing all of Miller’s great characters on the big screen being portrayed by such big name actors/actresses. Action fans will have scenes that they will talk about for weeks, and the casual movie buff won’t be able to deny the amount of polish and hard work that “Sin City� contains in providing a great movie experience that should not be missed.

‘Underworld: Evolution,’ All Style, No Substance

By Patrick Hickey Jr

While “Underworld: Evolution� does provide fans of the original film with exactly what they want, all the nudity,...
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‘Underworld: Evolution,’ All Style, No Substance

By Patrick Hickey Jr

While “Underworld: Evolution� does provide fans of the original film with exactly what they want, all the nudity, fighting scenes and special effects in “Underworld: Evolution,� can’t shake the hollowness the movie ultimately leaves by its end.

Continuing the story from the previous film, Selene, the vampire warrior, played by Kate Beckinsale (Pearl Harbor, Van Helsing) is still stuck in the middle of a war between the Death Dealer Vampires and Lycan Werewolves, while her only ally, a Vampire-Werewolf hybrid named Michael, played by Scott Speedman (Duets, The 24th Day) is still adjusting to his new found power.

While on the run from the death dealers, Selene and Michael uncover Selene’s strange and unknown past, finding out that her family played a much bigger role in the war between the Death Dealers and Lycans than she originally perceived.

It’s around this same time that Marcus, the father of all vampires, played by Tony Curran, (Flight of the Phoenix, The League of Extraordinary Gentleman) is awoken from a 500 plus year sleep and is hell bent on uniting with his brother William, who just happens to be the first ever Lycan.

While the story sounds great on paper, the execution of it on film is below mediocre. Throughout the movie, so many things happen without explanation or reason. Why is it that all of a sudden Selene begins remembering her past? Why does Selene fall for Michael, when in the first movie she’s a loner with no intention of being with anybody?

If these things were explained, it would not only make the movie more interesting to watch, it would give more people a real reason to see the movie other than to see Kate Beckinsale naked and in a skin tight leather outfit, a-la Catwoman, for almost two hours.

While no one is complaining about Beckinsale’s performance in the movie, it’s just sad to see a movie that had so much going for it ruined by a hap-hazard script that had so many holes in it. Even despite the horrendous script, “Underworld: Evolution� is still not a bad action offering, you just have to go into the theater not wanting to be blown away by a deep and intricate story.

For those of you that wish to see your typical action movie, with tons of blood, naked women and special effects, “Underworld: Evolution� will not disappoint. However, for those that like their action flicks with just as much substance as style, take your coke and popcorn into another theatre.

Eight Below Will Warm Your Heart
By Patrick Hickey Jr

Based on a true story, “Eight Below� uses the always successful formula of having incredibly talented and beautiful animals telling the film’s...
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Eight Below Will Warm Your Heart
By Patrick Hickey Jr

Based on a true story, “Eight Below� uses the always successful formula of having incredibly talented and beautiful animals telling the film’s story, rather than actors. While Paul Walker (The Fast and the Furious), Jason Biggs (American Pie) and Moon Bloodgood (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton) all give memorable performances, it’s the dogs of “8 Below� that eventually capture the hearts of the audience, making the movie a must-see.

Stationed at a scientific base in Antarctica, Jerry Shepard (played by Walker) is a tour guide for scientists who wish to explore the area, using his pack of Siberian Huskies to reach any destination on the continent.

When scientist Davis McClaren (played by Bruce Greenwood) comes to the frozen land to look for a meteorite from Mercury, Shepard and the dogs escort the scientist to his destination. Unfortunately, McClaren gets seriously injured and is forced to be flown to a hospital, Shepard, in saving him, suffers serious frostbite and is also taken to the hospital.

As the two are taken to the hospital on the other side of the continent, a storm of epic proportions hits and everyone is evacuated from the base, except the dogs. Unable to get his dogs out for months because of the storm’s severity, Shepard becomes miserable and travels all over the country in an attempt to raise the money necessary to save the animals he cares so much about.

From then after, “Eight Below,� becomes more like a national geographic feature about the life these animals were forced to live for almost a year by themselves in Antarctica, before eventually being saved by Shepard and his friends, than an actual movie. Simply put, the animals in this movie are not only incredibly intelligent; they are equally as charismatic and beautiful. Any dog lover owes it to themselves to see this movie. Movie-goers who are not avid dog lovers will still be amused enough by the actions of these amazing animals to become not only fans of the movie, but animal lovers as well.

Great Special Effects And A Solid Cast Give Narnia License To Shine

By Patrick Hickey Jr

With movies like “The Lord of the Rings� and “Harry Potter� gracing audiences over the past five...
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Great Special Effects And A Solid Cast Give Narnia License To Shine

By Patrick Hickey Jr

With movies like “The Lord of the Rings� and “Harry Potter� gracing audiences over the past five years, movie buffs have sure had plenty of great movies to choose from when it comes to novel-based epics on the big screen. Great special effects brought the work of Tolkien and Rowling to life on the big screen in a way that induced millions of smiles across movie theaters all over the world, this time around, C.S. Lewis’s classic, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,� follows the successful formula set by directors Peter Jackson and Chris Columbus by combining a great story and witty characters together with phenomenal special effects by Industrial Light and Magic that put Narnia in the same league as any ring-wearing hobbit or broom stick carrying Englishman.

Even if you’ve never read the C.S. Lewis classic, you’ll fall in love with the Pevensie family and their story to bring back peace to the world of Narnia. Casting Coordinator Victoria Cole did a fantastic job of combining up and coming young stars like Georgie Kenley and William Moseley with the mainstream appeal of established actors like Tilda Swinton (Constantine, Vanilla Sky), Jim Broadbent (The Crying Game, Bridget Jones) and voice talent of Liam Neeson and Rupert Everett to give a classic story an equally as solid cast.

The production value of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is equally as beneficial to the success of the film as Industrial Light and Magic (the minds that have brought us great special effects for over 25 years) has brought the great characters in Narnia like Mr. Tumnus, Aslan and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver to life, making the movie shine higher than others in the genre. Battle scenes are set on massive scales and despite mimicking those in the “Lord of the Rings,� they set the stage for a truly beautiful epic-fantasy adventure. Overall, with great special effects, a solid cast and a good script, it’s obvious this winter will see millions of die-hard Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter fans swear their allegiance to the troops of Narnia. With six scheduled sequels in the works as well, Narnia plans on sticking around a lot longer than any teenage magician or bow and arrow carrying elf.