Lord of War

Yuri Orlov is a globetrotting arms dealer. Through some of the deadliest war zones, Yuri struggles to stay one step ahead of a relentless Interpol agent, his business rivals, even some of his customers who include many of the world's most notorious dictators. Finally, Yuri must also face his own conscience.

Man, there's alot of action in this movie. From the very beginning when he's a small-time gunrunner, up to the end where even the government is protecting him, it's alot of fun to watch Nicolas Cage's Yuri stay one step ahead of Ethan Hawke's Jack Valentine. I wasn't really amazed or stunned by anything in this movie until the very end where it shows that all that happened in this story was based on actual events. At that point, what you watched, from the killing of a young boy at the beginning to the giving away of AK-47s to those who can barely read so they can continue killing each other, is met with somewhat of a detached observance. Only at the point where I realized that it was all true did it hit home and change the movie from a fun movie to a sad one.

This movie is typical fare for a R-rated movie. Violence is graphic and constant. Partial (topless) nudity is shown for a couple of women. Sex is shown a couple of times as well. Language is constant throughout this movie.

This movie is well-made and makes a point without seeming preachy. Nicolas Cage does an excellent job as Yuri as does Jared Leto as Vitaly. I don't have any real complaints about this movie but it just doesn't have what it takes to be truly monumental. I will warn you, the final words you see on the screen before the credits roll will haunt you for days.

4.3 out of 5

The Transporter 2

Frank Martin is the best in the business. The ex-Special Forces operative hires himself out as a mercenary "transporter" who moves goods--human or otherwise. Very simple, he delivers, no questions asked. Frank has relocated from the French Mediterranean to Miami, Florida, where as a favor to a friend, Frank is driving for the wealthy Billings family. There's very little that can surprise The Transporter, but young Jack Billings has done just that; Frank has unexpectedly bonded with Jack, age 6, who he drives to and from school. But when Jack is kidnapped, Frank must use his battle-tested combat skills to retrieve the boy and thwart the kidnappers' master plan to release a virus that will kill anyone with whom it comes in contact.

I loved the first transporter and I was hoping for more of the same. I wasn't completely disappointed. Jason Stratham as Frank Martin is as cold and professional as ever. This is a movie that is unintentionally funny. Most of the action scenes are so over-the-top and unbelieveable that you can't help but laugh. I remember one scene where Frank removes a bomb attached to the bottom of his car by jumping a ramp, his car flipping upside down, and the hook on a crane removing only the bomb while missing everything else on his undercarriage. He then lands perfectly. The entire theater was laughing. I don't see how this could have been the studio's intent. All craziness aside, Transporter 2 is a fun, short movie that has a fast pace and plenty of action.

Typical PG-13 fare. A bit of language, plenty of violence and a insane woman who only wears lingerie. Nothing outstanding here.

A fun movie with some far-fetched ideas. Plenty of action and great pace. Unfortunately, the unbelievable nature of some of the scenes will have even fans of the first film shaking their heads.

3.8 out of 5

The Brothers Grimm

Legendary fairytale scribes, brothers Will and Jake Grimm, travel around the Napoleonic countryside vanquishing monsters and demons in exchange for quick money. But when the French authorities figure out their scheme, the con men are forced to contend with a real magical curse when they enter an enchanted forest where young maidens keep disappearing under mysterious circumstances.

I really didn't expect alot out of this movie and that's really a good way to go into a movie. This movie is basically a combination of 10+ fairy tales. Tales from Rapunzel to Sleeping Beauty are covered and that's really the only enjoyment I got out of this film. This movie would have been unbearable if it wasn't for the enjoyment of figuring out which fairy tales they were combining into this story. My wife and my sister enjoyed the story, but they also mainly enjoyed the incorporation of multiple fairy tales. Matt Damon performs fairly bad as is typical, however, Heath Ledger actually was fairly impressive as Jake Grimm. He actually did some very good acting and really impressed me (which he's never done before). The concept of this film is very cool, however, that seems to be where it stops: at concept.

While you might think this movie would be fine for smaller children, it really isn't. Some scenes that would very frightening to children (i.e. a horse eating a small girl), are sprinkled throughout this film.

I suppose this is the type of film you'd come to expect at the end of the summer movie season. Nothing outstandingly good nor bad about this film. It's really a shame that they couldn't capitalize on the awesome concept of multiple fairy tales being used and instead settled for a mediocre storyline and fairly bad acting. They could have easily taken this film from bearable to incredible.

3.0 out of 5

The Great Raid

The year is 1945 and hundreds of U.S. soldiers held captive in the brutal Japanese war camps at Cabanatuan in the Philippines are under imminent threat of death. These are the only soldiers who remain alive in the Philippines of the 70,000 American and Allied forces surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army at Bataan in 1942, following the departure of General MacArthur. Forced to walk through the sweltering, mosquito-infested jungles on what would become known as the Bataan Death March, the survivors were then held captive in remote and deadly camps. Now, three years later, with MacArthur back as he promised in the Philippines, the Japanese War Ministry has issued a "Kill All Policy" to annihilate their war camps--and every single U.S. prisoner in them. At a camp named Palawan, 150 U.S. soldiers are forced into trenches, doused in gasoline and set on fire. Meanwhile, believing themselves all but forgotten by their comrades and country, the surviving prisoners at Cabanatuan have dubbed themselves the "ghost soldiers." Among them is Major Gibson, weakened by malaria, who is hanging on by a thread of hope and his love for a Catholic aid worker, Margaret, who has been assisting the Filipino Underground. Back at the 6th Army Headquarters in nearby Luzon, Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Mucci, the tough, ambitious but charismatic leader known for inspiring devoted loyalty among his men, has been assigned to find a way to penetrate behind enemy lines and free the U.S. prisoners. The task appears to be strategically impossible--the men will likely face heavy resistance and will be far outnumbered by Japanese troops--but Mucci is never deterred by an extreme challenge. Mucci selects the young, bookish but brilliant Captain Robert Prince to lead the raid, who in turn comes up with a daring plan to have 121 hand-picked, elite Rangers and Alamo Scouts slip 30 miles deep into enemy territory and make a surprise, lightning assault on the camp. To increase the already slim chances for success, the U.S. will join forces with members of the Filipino resistance, led by Captain Juan Pajota, whose intimate knowledge of the lay of the land will help to guide the committed band of men to their ultimate goal.

Too bad this one didn't get more publicity. Miramax was smart to produce this movie. It's a great war movie with many actors that you see in supporting roles from other movies or from TV shows (like Harry Osborn from Spiderman) playing lead roles here. Joseph Fiennes really stood out as Maj. Daniel Gibson. A great war movie that leaves you walking away with a good feeling.

R-rated for the graphic violence and minor language. The violence is where the rating really comes from though. While not as graphic as Saving Private Ryan or Black Hawk Down, this movie runs a close second.

This movie has a great flow to it that never really drags while still giving you time to breath between intense scenes. If you enjoy a good war movie, The Great Raid delivers.

4.4 out of 5

Wedding Crashers

Divorce mediators John Beckwith and Jeremy Grey are business partners and lifelong friends who share one truly unique springtime hobby--crashing weddings! Whatever the ethnicity of the wedding party--Jewish, Italian, Irish, Chinese, Hindu--the charismatic and charming duo always have clever back stories for inquisitive guests and inevitably become the hit of every reception, where they strictly adhere to their proven "rules of wedding crashing" to meet and pick up women aroused by the very thought of marriage. At the tail end of another successful season of toasting brides and grooms, Jeremy learns that the daughter of Treasury Secretary William Cleary and his wife, Kathleen, is getting married in what is sure to be the Washington D.C. social event of the year. After infiltrating the lavish affair, John and Jeremy quickly set their sights on two bridesmaids, Claire and Gloria Cleary. With the lavish reception in full swing, Jeremy works his game plan to perfection in seducing Gloria, but John's flirtation banter with Claire is unexpectedly impeded by her pompous, Ivy League boyfriend Sack. Having uncharacteristically fallen hard and fast for Claire, John convinces a resistant Jeremy to bend the crashing rules and accept an invitation to an extended weekend party at the Cleary family compound. Once at the palatial waterfront estate, John and Jeremy endure a multitude of comical mishaps at the hands of the dysfunctional members of the Cleary family, but also learn a few unexpected lessons about love and relationships.

This movie showcases Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson playing off of each other at their best. The laughs come throughout, yet there is a good romantic undertone which makes this movie a great date movie. I really have no complaints about this movie, yet I seem to compare all movies to Old School anymore and while this movie is excellent, it doesn't quite reach that standard. Isla Fisher really shines as the crazy sister Gloria Cleary. Her perfomance combined with Vaughn and Wilson really make this movie hilarious.

The R-Rating for this movie is well-deserved. In the vein of Old School, Road Trip and 40 year old virgin, much of the humor is sexually-based and the language reflects that. Sexual situations are throughout which is to be expected.

Between the 40 year old virgin and Wedding Crashers there is alot offered for comedy fans. This movie is one both the guys and girl in the can enjoy as Rachel McAdam's character will really appeal to the romantics in the crowd while the rest of the cast will keep you in stitches throughout.

4.6 out of 5