The 6th movie of the summer was Kung Fu Panda 2, also on May 28, 2011. The animated feature had outstanding reviews. Though I had seen the first KFP movie and loved it, number 2 outdid my expectations and fully deserved the A+++ ratings. Here's the synopsis:
"Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villian, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed."
I absolutely loved this movie, even more than the first one. Usually, I'm not the greates fan of cartoons, but this one was top notch and great for kids and adults alike. I laughed and worried and was surprised and awe-stricken, and the ending left me wanting to know what's going to happen next. Oh yes, there HAS to be a number three! There's a great suprise waiting for Po.
My rating: 9
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, click here: PANDA. The synopsis was found on movies.yahoo.com.
* Ratings are based on a 1 - 10 scale.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
The Hangover: Part II
For our fifth movie of the summer, we saw The Hangover: Part II on May 28, 2011. Depicted as one of the raunchiest comedies of the season, it definately lived up to those expectations. Here's the synopsis:
"In 'The Hangover Part II', Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu's wedding. With the memory of Doug's nearly disastrous bachelor party in Las Vegas still fresh - or at least well-documented - Stu is taking no chances. He has opted for a safe, subdued, pre-wedding trip brunch, with pancakes, coffee... and no alcohol. However, things don't go as planned. Two nights before the big day, at a fabulous resort in Thailand, Stu relents. One beer each. In sealed bottles. What could go wrong? What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can't even be imagined."
The Wolf Pack is definately back! This movie was truly one of the raunchiest I've seen - maybe ever, which just added to the hilarity. Though the plot follows the exact same line as the first Hangover movie, the second still had you wondering what could possibly happen next. Please be advised that there is a lot of male nudity in this flick, and there may be things that you will see that you will never want to see again. I do commend the Warner Bros Company and director Todd Phillips for their even bolder moves on part II though. I'm not sure if this one will win the Golden Globe, but it is definately worht seeing - if you're at least 18. If nothing else, you'll learn some great facts about Bangkok and Thailand!
My rating: 6.
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, which is where I found the synopsis, click here: HANGOVER
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
"In 'The Hangover Part II', Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu's wedding. With the memory of Doug's nearly disastrous bachelor party in Las Vegas still fresh - or at least well-documented - Stu is taking no chances. He has opted for a safe, subdued, pre-wedding trip brunch, with pancakes, coffee... and no alcohol. However, things don't go as planned. Two nights before the big day, at a fabulous resort in Thailand, Stu relents. One beer each. In sealed bottles. What could go wrong? What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can't even be imagined."
The Wolf Pack is definately back! This movie was truly one of the raunchiest I've seen - maybe ever, which just added to the hilarity. Though the plot follows the exact same line as the first Hangover movie, the second still had you wondering what could possibly happen next. Please be advised that there is a lot of male nudity in this flick, and there may be things that you will see that you will never want to see again. I do commend the Warner Bros Company and director Todd Phillips for their even bolder moves on part II though. I'm not sure if this one will win the Golden Globe, but it is definately worht seeing - if you're at least 18. If nothing else, you'll learn some great facts about Bangkok and Thailand!
My rating: 6.
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, which is where I found the synopsis, click here: HANGOVER
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides
Our fourth movie of the summer was Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides on May 21, 2011. As the fourth Pirates movie, it was just what I expected it to be. It was available in both 2D and 3D versions, of which we opted for the regular 2D. Here's the synopsis:
"Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, Pirates of teh Carribean: On Stranger Tides captures the fun, excitement and humor that ignited the hit franchise this time is Disney Digital 3D. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in this action-packed adventure thatfinds him corssing paths (and swords) with the enigmatic Angelica (Penelope Cruz). When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the legendary Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth. Along the way Jack must use all his wiles to deal with the barbarous Blackbeard and his crew of zombies, Angelica, the ravishing pirate with whom he shares a dubious past, and the beautiful, enchanting mermaids whose masterful cunning can lure even the most seasoned sailor to his doom. The international cast included franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the indestructable Captain Hector Barbosa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshame Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid."
I found the fourth Pirates movie to be just as good as the rest of them. The visual effects were great, and of course the soundtrack was superb. It was a long movie - we were in the theatre for two and a half hours - but it was worth it. You also have to stay past the credits for this movie to catch a few more seconds of the ending. There were so many plot twists that we found ourselves thinking the movie as unpredictable as Jack Sparrow's character, but in a good way. There absolutely has to be another movie to tie up the loose ends that are left dangling at the end. What happens to the missionary and the mermaid, Angelica and Jack? I can't wait to find out! The Pirate's franchise is undoubtedly captivating in all it's adventures and style.
My rating: 7
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, which is where I found the synopsis, click here: PIRATES
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
"Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, Pirates of teh Carribean: On Stranger Tides captures the fun, excitement and humor that ignited the hit franchise this time is Disney Digital 3D. Johnny Depp returns to his iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow in this action-packed adventure thatfinds him corssing paths (and swords) with the enigmatic Angelica (Penelope Cruz). When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the legendary Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected journey to the fabled Fountain of Youth. Along the way Jack must use all his wiles to deal with the barbarous Blackbeard and his crew of zombies, Angelica, the ravishing pirate with whom he shares a dubious past, and the beautiful, enchanting mermaids whose masterful cunning can lure even the most seasoned sailor to his doom. The international cast included franchise vets Geoffrey Rush as the indestructable Captain Hector Barbosa and Kevin R. McNally as Captain Jack's longtime comrade Joshame Gibbs, plus Sam Claflin as a stalwart missionary and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as a mysterious mermaid."
I found the fourth Pirates movie to be just as good as the rest of them. The visual effects were great, and of course the soundtrack was superb. It was a long movie - we were in the theatre for two and a half hours - but it was worth it. You also have to stay past the credits for this movie to catch a few more seconds of the ending. There were so many plot twists that we found ourselves thinking the movie as unpredictable as Jack Sparrow's character, but in a good way. There absolutely has to be another movie to tie up the loose ends that are left dangling at the end. What happens to the missionary and the mermaid, Angelica and Jack? I can't wait to find out! The Pirate's franchise is undoubtedly captivating in all it's adventures and style.
My rating: 7
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, which is where I found the synopsis, click here: PIRATES
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Bridesmaids
The third movie my guy and I saw at theaters was Bridesmaids on May 14, 2011. This movie had high ratings from the critics, and I have to say, I agree with them. Here's the synopsis:
"Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love."
This movie was definately not a dissappointment in any way, and so far my favorite movie of the summer. It has raunchy, but undoubtedly gut-busting humor. I don't think there was a period of even ten minutes that went by without laughing. It is definately the female version of "The Hangover". I recommend this to all women who can handle the comedic style of Judd Apatow. It's a great movie for the guys as well, since it's not all about the romantic mush of wedding planning. It's about anything and everything that could go wrong while planning one. I just hope, if and when it comes to my wedding plans, that nothing happens to me like it did to poor Lillian in this movie. For now, this is definately my top pick of the season, since I am literally laughing out loud as I type this, remembering certain scenes.
My rating: 9
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie (and also enter for a chance to win a trip to Vegas!), which is where I found the synopsis, click here: BRIDESMAIDS
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
"Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love."
This movie was definately not a dissappointment in any way, and so far my favorite movie of the summer. It has raunchy, but undoubtedly gut-busting humor. I don't think there was a period of even ten minutes that went by without laughing. It is definately the female version of "The Hangover". I recommend this to all women who can handle the comedic style of Judd Apatow. It's a great movie for the guys as well, since it's not all about the romantic mush of wedding planning. It's about anything and everything that could go wrong while planning one. I just hope, if and when it comes to my wedding plans, that nothing happens to me like it did to poor Lillian in this movie. For now, this is definately my top pick of the season, since I am literally laughing out loud as I type this, remembering certain scenes.
My rating: 9
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie (and also enter for a chance to win a trip to Vegas!), which is where I found the synopsis, click here: BRIDESMAIDS
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
Thor
The second movie event of the summer season was Thor on May 7, 2011. This movie had both regular 2D and 3D versions. We opted to pay the extra charge to see it in 3D. The movie was filmed in 3D, and so to my delight, did not give me a headache. Here's the Marvel synopsis:
"The epic adventure THOR spans the Marvel Universe from the present day Earth to the cosmic realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient way. As a result, Thor is banished to Earth where he is forced to live among humans. When the most dangerous villian of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero."
I must say that I liked this movie a lot more that I expected to. I thought that it would be full of ugly battle scenes, but it wasn't. There were only two and a half major battle scenes, and even those didn't last long and weren't as rough as I thought they would be, which I appreciated as a woman. (As a woman I also appreciated the shirtless Chris Hensworth scene.) Marvel Studios seems to understand that a battle doesn't have to be long and gory to get the point across. Overall, I loved the story of this movie, and it was played out well. I loved every second of it, and even got a little teary at the end (it was a good teary - the "aw" factor). If you see this movie, you must stay until after the credits are over to see a sneak preview of the upcoming movie "The Avengers".
My rating: 8
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, which is where I found the synopsis, click here: THOR
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
"The epic adventure THOR spans the Marvel Universe from the present day Earth to the cosmic realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient way. As a result, Thor is banished to Earth where he is forced to live among humans. When the most dangerous villian of his world sends its darkest forces to invade Earth, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero."
I must say that I liked this movie a lot more that I expected to. I thought that it would be full of ugly battle scenes, but it wasn't. There were only two and a half major battle scenes, and even those didn't last long and weren't as rough as I thought they would be, which I appreciated as a woman. (As a woman I also appreciated the shirtless Chris Hensworth scene.) Marvel Studios seems to understand that a battle doesn't have to be long and gory to get the point across. Overall, I loved the story of this movie, and it was played out well. I loved every second of it, and even got a little teary at the end (it was a good teary - the "aw" factor). If you see this movie, you must stay until after the credits are over to see a sneak preview of the upcoming movie "The Avengers".
My rating: 8
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, which is where I found the synopsis, click here: THOR
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
African Cats
The first movie of Summer 2011 that my guy and I saw was Disney Nature's African Cats on it's openeing weekend of April 22nd. Opening week, all profits from ticket sales from this particular movie went to a Save-the-Savannah fund. Here's the Disney synopsis:
"An epic true story set against the backdrop of the wildest place on Earth, "African Cats" captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of teh savannah. Narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, the story features Mara, and endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mothers strenght, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and the single mother of five mischevious newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a rival lion and his sons. Disneynature brings "The Lion King" to life on the big screen in this True Life Adventure directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill ("Earth"). An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, "African Cats" leaps into theaters on Earth Day, April 22, 2011."
True to it's claims about bringing "The Lion King" to life on the big screen, I found myself seeing a few of the characters as similar to some of the characters in the cartoon movie. Specifically, I saw young Mara as Simba and the king of the rival pride Kali as Mufasa. The movie was definately true-to-life with all of it's ups and downs. I found myself tearing up at a few different parts and I definately felt the seriousness of the story. The seriousness was nicely balanced with the parts that made you smile, which is why I recommend "African Cats" as a great family movie. It is narrated in a way that younger children and adults alike can appreciate.
My rating: 7
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, which is where I found the synopsis, click here: AFRICAN CATS
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
"An epic true story set against the backdrop of the wildest place on Earth, "African Cats" captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of teh savannah. Narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson, the story features Mara, and endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mothers strenght, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and the single mother of five mischevious newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a rival lion and his sons. Disneynature brings "The Lion King" to life on the big screen in this True Life Adventure directed by Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill ("Earth"). An awe-inspiring adventure blending family bonds with the power and cunning of the wild, "African Cats" leaps into theaters on Earth Day, April 22, 2011."
True to it's claims about bringing "The Lion King" to life on the big screen, I found myself seeing a few of the characters as similar to some of the characters in the cartoon movie. Specifically, I saw young Mara as Simba and the king of the rival pride Kali as Mufasa. The movie was definately true-to-life with all of it's ups and downs. I found myself tearing up at a few different parts and I definately felt the seriousness of the story. The seriousness was nicely balanced with the parts that made you smile, which is why I recommend "African Cats" as a great family movie. It is narrated in a way that younger children and adults alike can appreciate.
My rating: 7
If you'd like to check out the official website for the movie, which is where I found the synopsis, click here: AFRICAN CATS
*Ratings are on a 1 - 10 scale.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)