Sherlock Holmes (Review)

What I knew going in:
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law star in the latest Christmas season action adventure.  That Sherlock Holmes' name and mannerisms are used is purely coincedental.

Hype:
Meh+  A lot of people I know wanted to see this film just because it looked fun.  Could they be right or would Hollywood severly disappoint us agian?

Opening Thoughts:
OK, this is completely different than what I thought it was going to be.  The feel is much darker than I expected it to be, and it reminds me a lot of Young Sherlock Holmes, which was a brilliant and highly underrated film. 

Bottom Line:
Its not going to blow your mind but it does have a ton of original concepts and little touches that make it a good watch from start to finish.  The accents are british enough, and while they are talking entirely too fast and too quietly, the pacing is good and the plot is intriguing.    It seems to me that there is a disturbing new trend to big franchises lately:  Take the first film, do it up with a minor pantheon villian, and then bring out the big guns for the sequel and make it ridiculohuge.  A few examples of this include the recent Batman and Hulk films, and the upcoming Iron Man and Star Trek sequels.  So it follows that Holmes will face off against his big nemesis, Professor Moriarity in the sequel to this one.  In my opinion, and despite the trend, if we can expect the same quality in the big blockbusters as we have received this Christmas season, then Hollywood can have all the money it wants.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988045/

Passengers (Review)

What I knew going in:
Anne Hathaway plays a psychiatrist looking into an airplane crash where something strange is happening to the survivors.

Hype: 
Meh.  This was recommended to me by a friend of mine, which I hadn't seen even though it was released in 2008.

Opening Thoughts:
This movie keeps flopping back and forth between dramatic tension and creepy music, followed by happy romance and drama.  Each flop, while competent, is spoiling the feel of the movie and adds an unecessary layer of confusion.

Bottom Line:
The twist of the film at the end, while interesting, is a mite predictable.  Still, the ride is fun if a little slow at times, and it all makes sense at the end.  Not as good as The Forgotten, but not bad if you want a movie that will cause you to do some heavy thinking.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449487/

Astro Boy (Review)

What I knew going in:
Nick Cage stars in a kids film based on the Japanese star of comic books and movies in an American take on the old classic.

Hype:
Meh.  Like all kids films, could be good, could be bad, could scare my niece.

Opening Thoughts:
I really like the attention to detail all of the characters and objects have in this flick.  They've done a great job in setting a new graphical standard for 3D animated kids films.

Bottom Line:
Its fun, its kid friendly, and um...  yeah.  Its exactly what you expect from a kids movie, and there's nothing there to entertain the adults.  Its good background noise in a sea of Meh.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375568/

Avatar (3D Theater Review)

What I knew going in:
James Cameron is back directing the most expensive budgeted movie of all time at $600 million.  A Sci-Fi Epic encompassing a new 3D technology and some of the most impressive marketing ever seen.

Hype:
Jizz in my Pants.  I've been waiting for this movie for over 5 years, ever since I heard Cameron was coming back to big budget Sci-Fi.  His previous entries included The Abyss, Aliens, and True Lies, which are amongst my favorite movies of all time.

Opening Thoughts:
Well, I hoped this film would be awesome and I am not disappointed in the visuals in the least.  Seeing a movie completely shot in 3D is unlike anything you've experienced before.  Every new environment is a feast for the eyes with all sorts of things you've never seen before.

Bottom Line:
Its Ferngully with Robots and Aliens.  The plot and storytelling are pedestrian, but the sights and sound are absolutely unmatched in the history of visual media.  No game, movie, or TV show will amaze you the way this film will, as long as you see it in 3D.  An absolute MUST SEE, and I'm hoping Cameron does at least one or two more epics before he retires again to go film more underwater crap.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499549/