Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

I did speak too soon on my Curious Case of Benjamin Button review. This, right here, is the Best Picture winner. Tomorrow, Slumdog Millionaire will become an underdog story at the Oscars. Buzzy and a great director, Slumdog had everything going for it. Now it can finally claim what it rightfully needs: Oscars.

Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel of Britain's Skins), a man currently in the hot seat of the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. He gets to the second to last question and the authorities think he is cheating and take him into prison. There, they tell about the show and he tells of his life in the slums of Mumbai and the love of his life, Letika.

Danny Boyle's direction is just stunning, as usual. The film is very artistic, employing all kinds of direction techniques. The scene in which the children run away from evil authorities is very well shot. It is a frenzied scene of children jumping across rooftops and hiding behind curtains. Many directors could shoot the scene well, but the best would have been the version that came in the form of this film.

The film has only one flaw. The problem that I had with the film was the predictability of it. You can tell where the film is going to go right from the start. Even scene that are supposed to make you think something else didn't deceive me. Although, I suppose there is nothing you can do about it considering that the writers adapted it from the book Q & A.

Slumdog Millionaire is the second best film of 2008. Sorry, I still love The Dark Knight. Still, it really is a very bittersweet movie with tons of acclaim and a great soundtrack. It is a hip, cool look at the bad parts of India and the corruption of authorities. The sweet tale of Jamal is sure to charm anyone who watches it.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Seeing as this long forgotten classic is being remade, I thought I would see what it is all about. The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a fun thriller. It is not something that is easy to forget, but somehow it has become that way. I can't really give an explanation for it.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is about a group of men named after colors boarding a subway car. They get on the train and hold it up with a ransom of a million dollars (and that was back in '74!). If their demands aren't met by the state of New York in an hour, they will kill one passenger per minute.

It really doesn't surprise me at all that somebody wants to remake it. It is a flawed movie. This has become even more flawed over the course of time because it is so dated. Still, old movies should never be touched. Then again, maybe this one does need the Denzel Washington/John Travolta/Jason Statham casting it recently got.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is very fun and I really do love the end. To tell what happens would completely ruin it, so I'll let you find out for yourself. The beginning is slow and well paced, but the end moves extremely fast. The film comes out to be a classic...a forgotten classic.

Book vs. Movie

Little Children vs. Little Children
The Explanation: Both are great. The acting in the movie is something the book can't do, obviously, but the book is way funnier than the movie. On the other hand, the movie cuts a lot of the flashbacks in the book which makes the movie slightly better.
The Verdict: The movie.

The Ring vs. Ring
The Explanation: This is almost hard to do. Again, both are very good, but they are completely different. The Japanese version is more faithful to the book, but Verbinski's version is scary and satisfying.
The Verdict: Both.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button vs. the short story
The Explanation: As expected, F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story is great. It, unlike the movie, is satirical and funny rather than melodramatic. The movie is sentimental and long, but still find a place in my heart that the book doesn't. Also, the makeup is just fantastic.
The Verdict: The movie.

The Ruins vs. the book
The Explanation: The movie may have been bashed by critics, but it really wasn't that bad. I was entertained and I had fun. The movie was pretty faithful to Scott Smith's book. The main difference is that I didn't found the movie very creepy. The book was so scary I found that I couldn't read it before I went to bed like I usually do.
The Verdict: The book wins by a mile

"True Blood": Season 1 vs. Dead Until Dark
The Explanation: The sexed up series is a wild ride that the books just don't do for me. Yes, the books are funny, but they just don't do the same thing the series does for me. Both move at a really fast pace. The book cuts many of the sex scenes which may or may not be better depending on what you're looking for.
The Verdict: The series

Movies You Shouldn't See: Meet the Spartans (2008)

Meet the Spartans was once called Epic Movie 2. They cleverly disguised this film as Meet the Spartans because the writers were so ashamed of having written such an awful movie. The disguise didn't work. Meet the Spartans is just another awful spoof. Again, the first few times it was funny, but it has lost its charm.

Meet the Spartans is a spoof of 300, Transformers, Stomp the Yard, Grand Theft Auto, Ugly Betty, American Idol, and all other American entertainment things. It provides an even less funny outlook on action movies than ever before. Carmen Electra has been cast in a leading role if that tells you enough.

Although this may be a horrible movie, it has been a bit overcriticized. I would like to say that the Dane Cook impression was actually funny, but the rest of the movie just seems to weight it down. Come on. You made fun of Nicole Richie by making her look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Not funny!

What else is there to say about the movie? I have already criticized the awful nature of this movie enough for your likings. 300 is now not as good as it was the first time. Poor Carmen Electra. Why did you take their offer? I am not even going to go into how stupid the American Idol bashing is. For shame, Aaron Seltzer and your other six or however many writers, for shame!

Coraline (2009)

In 2002, I discovered the cunning and creepy book Coraline by Neil Gaiman. Even as an adult, I was completely scared by the book. Just this Friday, the film version was released in theaters. The film version is on par with the book in its excellence. In 3D, the movie is an amazing, fun-filled experience.

Coraline is about a little girl (voiced by Dakota Fanning) who moves to a new house. She hates her parents who refuse to pay attention to her and is completely bored by her new surroundings. One day, she stumbles upon a portal. Everything seems the same except that the people have button eyes. What she didn't know was that her other mother (voiced by Teri Hatcher) has other evil means for her.

In 3D, the film is absolutely beautiful. If you ever have seen a film shown in REAL-D technology, you know what it is like, but for those who don't, it is like real life. The movie honestly looks like there are drawn out actors right in front of your eyes. Seeing this makes me regret my decision not to see My Bloody Valentine in 3D, but from the looks of it, Monsters Vs. Aliens and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs look promising in 3D.

Aside from all that, the stop motion animation is great. It is hard to believe this wasn't done on the computer. That's just how good it is. Henry Selick, the man behind The Nightmare Before Christmas (and not Tim Burton contrary to belief), manages to scare the audience with this without even breaking a sweat. Also, the animation looks even better in 3D.

If you haven't figured it out yet, see the film if possible in 3D. If not, the film is amazing as well in 2D. Neil Gaiman's book has gotten a great adaptation for the screen. It has in no way lost its creepiness and intrigue. Coraline will definitely follow in the tracks of Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas by becoming a cult classic and selling clothes at Hot Topic.

Perspolis (2007)

Persepolis, an often banned book, has made its way to the big screen in a powerful way. The film carries all the artistic elements from the book. The viewer easily relates to our main character and we become completely engrossed in the movie.

Persepolis is autobiographical story of the author of the book, Marjane Satrapi. Chiara Mastroianni voices her as a girl living in Tehran during the turbulent 80's. Marjane quickly realizes what is going on around her and tries to participate in the revolution. Through this, she realizes the struggles in life and love.

The movie is flawless aside from one thing, the fact that they barely changed the graphic novel. Though it may be artistic and great, why make an animated movie out of an already drawn book? Still, it is very interesting and quite well done. I can't deny it.

Persepolis is gripping and powerful. The animation is great and a treat to watch. The stark black and white contrasts well with the few scenes in color. The movie's acting and message are excellent. Though not much work may have been done to adapt the graphic novel, it still winds up being great.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

It isn't just the ODs, royales with cheese, or other quotes that make this film great. Pulp Fiction is what it is and there simply isn't a better way to put it. Every single thing in the movie makes it great and I'm not really sure how else to put it. The acting, Quentin Tarantino, the amount of times the word "fuck" is said (I think it was over 300). It is all so memorable and that is why Pulp Fiction remains a pop culture icon.

It really isn't easy to sum up the movie in a paragraph, but here it goes. A couple at a diner, two hit men (John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson), a boxer (Bruce Willis), and a gangster's wife (Uma Thurman) lives all intertwine. The tales come together in unusual ways. The film follows a non-linear timeline. Other cast members include Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, Eric Stolz, and Rosanna Arquette.

The film has so many memorable scenes, but the overdose is my favorite. When the characters are forced to save a woman who has overdosed on cocaine, movie magic occurs. Maybe it's the acting, I don't know why, but it is just so great. Also, Travolta and Jackson's conversation about burgers is just so great. Another great scene is when a car goes over a bump and Jackson accidentally shoots a man and his brains blow all over him.

There isn't more to say than just go watch it. Pulp Fiction is a milestone in movie history and deserves to be watched by everyone. It may not be a film for everybody, but still, it is one of the best films of all time. If you have never understood what somebody was quoting, this movie was probably it. Go watch it! Now!

Pineapple Express (2008)

Though every comedy seems to boast "From the writers of Superbad", this one has the right to do so. Pineapple Express is fine and shockingly violent comedy. As opposed to other Seth Rogen works, this one is actually aimed at viewers with a refined movie taste. Though it may also may be aimed at pot smokers, you do NOT have to be one to see it and enjoy it.

Pineapple Express is the quirky story of a man (Seth Rogen) and his dealer (James Franco in a Golden Globe nominated role). After he sees a man get shot while he is high, he runs to his dealer and go on the run. Little do they know that the murderer and a corrupt policewoman are hot on their trailer. Indie auteur David Gordon Green directs.

Again, why is this film so smart? It really is the script that makes it work. Though it is an absolutely ridiculous and overly long movie, it still is a gem. It may be violent and not for everyone, but still how could anyone not laugh at the car chase scene? The whole kicking the foot through the window bit is one of the funniest I have ever seen. Also the cross joint is hilarious and wild.

If the tagline "One hit can ruin your whole day." wasn't good enough, the first fifteen minutes are sure to bring anyone who watches it under its spell. Though I will admit it could have been cut slightly, it does manage to make you laugh and that is the point of it. Seth Rogen has done another great job. My next Netflix rental will be Zack and Miri Make a Porno so we'll see if he's any good in it.

Tropic Thunder (2008)

The second smart comedy of 2008 is Tropic Thunder. Tropic Thunder is actually not smart at all, but it is a fine parody of war films such as Platoon and Apocalypse Now. Add some great acting and a clever script together and you get the nice surprise that Tropic Thunder is. Clever and stupid all at once, the movie is easily quotable and very fun.

The movie, as I have said before, is one long parody of the war film genre. It is about actors on the set of a movie who can't seem to work towards any progress in the movie. Among the many stars in the movie, there's Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and Robert Downey Jr. The director decides to get realistic war footage so he puts the actors in a climate the aren't used to: actual war. There are many cameos including Nick Nolte as a war veteran and Tom Cruise as a ruthless Hollywood agent.

Though even the credits seem like a joke, the movie was nearly completely made by actors. Ben Stiller does quadruple duty by acting, directing, producing, and writing the film. It's obvious that he wrote the script because it is so kooky and obnoxious (but also enjoyable) at times. What isn't quite as obvious is that movie star Justin Theroux also helped write the script. Also, the cast is quite good. Robert Downey Jr. is great as a black man and was nominated for an Oscar as a result of his performance. He won't win it, IMHO, because he is up against Heath Ledger.

Tropic Thunder is a comedy that should stick with American audiences for a while. The movie is offensive and never dull, typical characteristics of any Ben Stiller or Jack Black movie. Though I can't stand either actor, they are actually quite enjoyable. The rest of the cast isn't too shabby either. The fake trailers in the beginning are simply a nice finishing touch on an already golden movie.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of three great comedies of 2008. Unlike many of its genre, it is smart and hilarious. The acting is great and really fun to watch. Though it may be fluff, it still is quite funny and a great popcorn flick.

Peter (Jason Segel) is a musician happily going out with Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), an actor on the craptastic parody of CSI. Sarah breaks up with him over the reason that she has found a new boyfriend played by Russell Brand. Her new boyfriend is a sleazy rocker. Peter's brother suggests he take a vacation to Hawaii to get over the break up. Peter goes and there he meets Sarah again.

The movie's smaller roles are also what make it great. Mila Kunis plays an amiable love interest of Peter's. At times, she is cute and at other times, she is raunchy and hilarious. Bill Hader as Peter's brother is great. Jonah Hill of Superbad fame also plays a waiter at a resturaunt. My personal favorite is Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) as a Jesus loving man conflicted about sex with his wife.

The film is famous for its (ahem) full fronal scenes from Jason Segel. Are the necessary? Not really, but are the funny? Certainly. When asked about why he included them he said "Penises are funny". Apparently, that is true.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a movie that will be forgotten, unfortunately. For the next few years, it will retain its popularity, but I don't think it will stand the test of time. Still, the actors are enjoyable as well as the jokes. Smart and funny are two things that don't usually mix, but here they do exceptionally well.