Ur Movies

'Yes Man' Review

2009-01-08T02:12:00.000-08:00

Yes Man is another book to film adaptation. This one is starring Jim Carey. The film centers around Carl, who at the beginning of the film is a no man who constantly ignores life's opportunity, staying at home renting movies as life passes him by. However when he attends a self help seminar he becomes a yes man and learns to grab all of life's opportunities and really experience life before it is too late.
The film has its moments. There are some genuine laugh out loud moments here. One highlight is Carey weening a suicide jumper off the roof through song, which is Carey at his very best. The film is also aided by Carl's geeky boss, played Rhys Darby who almost manages to steal the show but not quite.
While this film marks the return of the Carey of old it is by no means his best. But neither is it his worst. Hopefully it is a sign of a return to the comedic side of Carey that shot him to fame in the first place.
7.5/10

'Marley and Me' Review

2009-01-08T01:57:00.000-08:00

Marley and Me is based on the bestselling memoir by journalist John Grogan. Like the book, the film accounts the tale of a misbehaved, yet loyal and lovable labrodor retreiver, Marley.
The on screen version boasts a cast led by Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston. Although at times the on-screenchemistry between them is not as good as you might hope, both are resonably good in their role and for most part has the audience emphasing with the ups and downs of married life and pet ownership.
The film has some memorable moments, both humerous and sad. Dog lover in particular will find Marleys antics highly entertaining. And fans of the book will enjoy seeing some of their favourite moments come to life.
The main theme of both the film and the book is that life is short and precious and you must make the most of it while you can. However the book makes this point better. Nor does the film mannage to match the humour and sentiment of the detailed and loving recounts found in Grogan's book. However it is still an enjoyable film, if not quite as memorable as the book.
7.5/10

Top 10 must-see movies of 2008

2008-12-31T21:50:00.000-08:00

2008 has produced some quality films and these are just some of them. Please feel free to point out any omissions or dispute the order as you like.

1) The Dark Knight – While best known as Ledger’s last film, the dark knight is a gritty, realistic Batman film, with outstanding performances. The only thing that lets this film down is the somewhat unfathomable descent into evil of two-face which was far too comic book compared with the rest of the film
2) Juno- This low budget film surprised everyone when it went on to become one of the year’s biggest hits armed with an outstanding script, unique directing style and memorable acting performances.
3) Tropic Thunder - Ben Stiller’s second film as writer and director does not disappoint. The film is a witty send up of the film industry and manages to offend just about everyone else along the way. It’s rare that a film can survive the multitude of superstars that this film has but it does so easily.
4) Body of lies – This film wasn’t the biggest hit but it is an excellent action thriller with some career best performances from DeCaprio and Crowe.
5) Australia – This is old-fashioned style film making at its best, featuring some modern flairs and some outstanding cinematography.
6) Hancock – Hancock is a breath of fresh air in a stale genre. It pokes fun at the usual comic book conventions while at the same time as highlighting why the genre has become so popular.
7) Twighlight – Twighlight has swiftly been approaching Harry Potter status this year and deservedly so. It’s hard for a film to live up to such a popular book but this one does a good job of it.
8) The Curious Case of Benjamin button – The plot sounds ridiculous at first, but it is a well made film with an original story and some great performances.
9) Wall–E – A charming tale of a little robot that was by far the best children’s movie of the year.
10) Jumper – A good adaption of a classic sci-fi novel, but could have been better. The film doesn’t live up to its potential but could be expanded further in sequels if done properly. It’s still easily the best sci-fi film of the year.

Honorable mentions:
Get Smart – a witty reinvention of the franchise that does not try to copy the original.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – People have said that this film was too unrealistic, but they clearly don’t remember the originals very well. Unlike the latest Star wars film this one is every bit as good as its predecessors.

'Shrek the Halls' Review

2008-11-17T18:34:00.000-08:00

Shrek the Halls is the Christmas spin off of the major film franchise that was aired on television last year and is now reformatted for a DVD release this season. Christmas specials often tend to be very hit or miss, but it does help when the special is backed by a franchise as beloved Shrek.
Surprisingly all of the actors of the films have chosen to return for this special, which does add greatly to its credibility. The familiarity of the characters also helps with the film's 22 minute runtime, as no time need be spent on character development. Not surpiringly then no new characters are introduced in the special.
The film picks up where the third one left off and revolves around Shrek's desire to provide the perfect family christmas for his new family. However it all turns haywire when Donkey typically does not take the hint and organises a christmas party with all Shrek's familar freinds.
There are some good moments here, but none are particualrly memorable. The film contains absolutely no new developments with the characters and does not really add anything to the Shrek story. However it was still far better than the abomination that was Skrek 3.Hopefully the next Shrek outing will live up to the classic original, but its doubtful.
While this film is not a total disaster (like the Star Wars Holiday Special for instance), it isn't particularly memorable either. However it is worthwhile entertainment for the holidays and will be liked by fans of the films.
6/10

'Body of Lies' Review

2008-10-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

Based upon the novel of the same name by David Ignatius, Body of lies is the latest action/thriller from legendary director Ridley Scott that is sure to get the heart pumping. The plot revolves around Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), a CIA agent whose mission it is to track down known terrorist leader Al-Saleem (Alon Aboutboul). In order to catch them Ferris along with fellow agent Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe) come up with an elaborate hoax to expose Saleem by setting up architect Omar Sadiki (Ali Suliman) as the head of a fictional terrorist group. However when Ferriss’ Iranian Girlfreind Aisha (Golshifeth Farahani) is captured by Al-Saleem Ferris races after him to rescue her.
Director Ridley Scott delivers as usual here. The cinematography is stunning and makes you feel as if you are right in the middle of the action. However Scott has ensured the plot has not taken a back seat to the action. He has also allowed his actors the opportunity to develop their characters, which makes the film so much more enjoyable.
DeCaprio and Crowe deliver outstanding performances as always. Both put in one of their best performances here. While the largely Iranian support cast is also fantastic. All have taken the opportunity to develop their characters fully and are all totally believable.
The film provides a thrilling portrayal of the harsh realities of war, middle eastern life, terroism, love and government conspiracies. Above all the main message of the film seems to be how fickle life is; ‘our world is alot easier to put to an end than you might think'. The inclusion of new Guns n’ Roses track ‘If the World’ suits this theme well. Its beautiful flamenco guitar intro has a very Middle Eastern feel to it and the lyrics ‘if the world would end and all love slipped away’ are a perfect fit for this film.
Body of lies is a thrilling ride that is sure to entertain and it is probably one of the best book to film adaptations you will ever find.

8.5/10

'Step brothers' Review

2008-10-18T22:24:00.000-07:00

The funniest thing about this movie is its concept; two forty year old men still living with their parents become step brothers when their parent get married. The problem is that they hate each other. But when their parents are headed for divorce they join forces to get them back together. Will Ferrell has managed to achieve the seemingly impossible here and sink to new levels of immaturity. Not that thats nessasarily a bad thing.
While the concept might be hilarious, it is difficult to sustain for an entire film. The film definetly has its ups and downs. Some jokes are misses, but there are alot of hits as well and some generally memorable scenes. Their rivalry between the kids in the playground and the twisted relationship between Dale and Alice (Kathryn Hahn) are hilirious to watch. Generally speaking it is resonably entertaining watching Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly act like ten year old kids in adult bodies for an hour and a half even if it does wear a little thin at times.
While not Ferrall's best film, it is quite entertaining and won't disappoint his many fans. However if you are not a fan of Will Ferrell this film won't be for you.

6.5/10

'Babylon AD' Review

2008-10-16T02:54:00.000-07:00

Babylon A.D. paints a somewhat depressing picture of the not so distant future, where terrorism has destroyed Russia and religious sects fight to gain global supremacy. Mercenary killer Hugo Thoorop (Vin Diesel) is hired to deliver a young priestess Aurura (Melanie Theiry) and her guardian (Michelle Yeoh) to New York, which is complicated by the fact that certain sectors want them dead and that Thoorop is a wanted terrorist in America. What he doesn’t know is that she is a genetically modified cyborg that has been created in order to breed a man-made-messiah that will allow the Neolite’s to become the world’s dominate religion.
For those familiar with Vin Diesel’s films he plays pretty much the same character here as in most of his other films; a role that he does perform very well, despite his lack of versatility. However this even for fans of Diesel this may not be enough as the film has very few other redeeming qualities.
The plot at times seems incoherent. This could be due to the fact that according to director Mathieu Kassovitz, who has distanced himself from this film, fox studios re-edited almost 30 minutes of the film out so that it no longer bears any resemblance to the script or the film he made. Either way, the fact is that there is very little story here and almost no character development. The plot is paper thin and the motives behind the characters actions are rarely properly revealed.
The film it’s a peak towards the latter stages. Suspense builds when Thoorop discovers the Neolites plan to kill Aurora, which leads to a suspenseful action sequence as they exit the hotel. However this is just about the only highlight of the film and the film’s only real quality action sequence.
Unfortunately the negatives far outweigh the positives here. Maybe when/if the director’s cut is released the film will be improved. However based on this version it’s hard to imagine. But we can only wait and see.

4.5/10

'10, 000 B.C.' Review

2008-10-15T03:16:00.000-07:00

10, 000 B.C. is the latest blockbuster from Roland Emmerich, the director of Independence day and the Day After Tomorrow. Like many of his movies the focus is on special effects rather than storytelling. So whilst the film is enjoyable and visually stunning, you are left with the feeling that the film hasn’t quite lived up to its potential.
10, 000 BC tells the story of a young caveman, who travels to the end of the earth and back to bring back his love who has been kidnapped by a group of foreign horsemen. His journey takes him out of his snowy mountain home, through the forest, across the desert and to the pyramids of Egypt. Along the way he encounters woolly mammoths, saber tooth tigers, enormous birds, African Tribesmen and a strange Alien race that as it turns out are responsible for building the pyramids. Historians may at the inaccuracies in the film. But does that really matter? It is not supposed to be a documentary after all.
The special effects in the film are outstanding. Pre-historic creatures are brought to life with stunning realism and the lavish scenery is breathtaking. Unfortunately other features of the film are not so outstanding.
The plot seems to be underdeveloped. The script is more focused on action than character development. While the love story on which the whole film is centered is never fully realized.
The film consists of a cast of relatively unknown actors Steven Strait, Cliff Curtis and Camille Belle, all of which do well in their parts. However, they are given very little to work with here, particularly Belle, who barely has a line in the whole movie.
The film is worth seeing on account of its fantastic effects and gripping action. However it could have been so much better if the story had been better developed and the cast given a chance to make us really feel for their characters.

7/10

'Drillbit Taylor' Review

2008-10-13T04:07:00.000-07:00

Drillbit Taylor sees Owen Wilson starring on our screens for the first time since his break down. And it’s refreshing to see him back in one of his trademark comedic roles. The film, which is written by Seth Rogenn (the writer of hits such as Knocked up, Step Brothers and the 40 year-old Virgin), revolves around the premise of a trio of bullied high school kids who hire a body guard to protect them from their bully. What they get is Drillbit Taylor (Wilson); a military deserter turned bum, posing as the super tough war veteran.
Owen Wilson is charming as always. Wilson plays the same likeable loser in most of his films, but we just can’t get enough of it. (Hopefully he keeps it coming). And Troy Gentile is fantastically evil as Ryan the school bully. His performance just makes you just utterly hate this character and makes you cheer hard for the three kids that Drillbit is trying to help.
Unfortunately however, apart from a few memorable moments the film is largely forgettable. While the performances are good, the laughs are just too few and far between and the story is just barely enough to sustain our interest.

5/10

'Iron Man' Review

2008-10-11T03:23:00.000-07:00

The latest in a string of comic book heroes to hit our screens in recent years is Iron Man. Iron man is about Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) the Billionaire owner of Stark Industries, a weapons manufacturing company, who turns himself into a superhero after being held captive by enemy soldiers and seeing the destruction his weapons cause first hand.
The film has an edgier feel to other comic book adaptations and the plot seems more plausible. Well, slightly more plausible anyway. The action sequences are thrilling and the visually stunning. And unlike other super heroes Iron man is not clean cut; he is sleazy and arrogant, yet somehow irresistible.
This is largely due to the brilliant portrayal of Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role as Iron Man, who wreaks charisma in the role. The supporting cast of Gwyneth Paltrow as his lovely assistant Pepper Potts and Jeff Bridges as Stark Industries chief executive turned evil super-villain Obadiah Stane are equally brilliant.
It is the film’s gritty, real-life feel and the outstanding performances of its cast that put this film ahead of the game when it comes to comic book adaptations. It is a fresh face in a worn out genre.

7/10

'My Best Freind's Girl' Review

2008-10-09T05:16:00.000-07:00

My Best Freinds Girl is the latest of romantically based comedies to hit our cinemas. This one is about a man named Tank (Dane Cook) whose job is to take women out on the worst date of their lives in order to send them running back to their exes (for a small fee). However when Tank takes on the job of turning off his best freind's (Jason Biggs) girlfreind (Kate Hudson) and accidently falls in love with her things becomes a little complicated.
This film is crude, rude and sometimes downright offensive. The film lacks sentiment and the jokes don't always hit their mark. However there are some truely funny moments, (which unusually aren't all shown on the trailers). For instance when tank takes a devout christian girl out to a restaurant called 'Chesus Chrust'. The film saves some of the best jokes till the end though. The wedding scene has some memorable scenes, including when Tank not so subtly propositions the brides mother.
The well-known cast puts in some respectable performances. While their characters aren't particularly memorable they are likeable enough to keep our attention. However it is Alec Baldwan that steals the show here, as Tank's dad Dustin. The shamless ladies man who has no boundaries and uses his day job as a supposedly mild mannered collage proffesser in womens studies to pick up young girls. Some of the best scenes revolve around the unusually open relationship between Dustin and his son.
The best thing about this film is that it doesn't take its self too seriously and often pokes fun at its genre. Such as a scene in a park where Tank says that he needs to set up a nice 'romcom' fantasy if he is going to get the girl. It crudeness also sets itself apart from the usual romantic comody.
My Best Freinds Girl doesn't nessasarily provoke alot of heartfelt emotions in the veiwer and there aren't too many laugh out load moments with some exceptions. However it has is self-depreciating charm and provides different. On this basis it does manage to stand out from others of its genre, but not by a great deal. It is however worth seeing.

6.5/10

'Made of Honor' Review

2008-10-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

In Made of Honor commitment phobic Tom (Patrick Dempsey) thinks he has the best of both worlds; he gets to sleep with a different girl every night and has his best friend Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) to rely on for companionship and stability. When she jets off to Scotland on a business trip he realizes how much he really cares for her and needs her in his life. He thus resolves to settle down and tell her how he truly feels about her before it becomes too late and she meets someone else. The problem is that when she returns she already has found someone else and he only has a few weeks before she ties the knot.
There are some good jokes in the film. The best being the films main gag which sees Tom playing the role of Maid of Honor for the girl he wants to be with. And both Dempsey and Monaghan are likeable in their roles, making you feel for the plight of Tom and rooting for him to win his girl back from her Princely Fiancée.
Made of Honor is pretty much your typical romantic comedy and the plot moves exactly as you’d expect, but it is a well made one and a good example of its genre.

7/10

'Journey to the Centre of the Earth 3D' Review

2008-10-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

Journey to the Centre of the Earth is the latest film adaption of the Jules Vern book Journey to the centre of the earth. It is actually not so much an adaptation as a story derived from Jules Vern’s book. This film revolves around scientists known as ‘Vernists’ who are out to prove that Jules Vern’s stories were not science fiction but science fact.
In this film struggling geologist Trevor (Brendan Frasier) tags his nephew Sean (Josh Hutcherson) along on a trip to Iceland in the hopes of discovering their lost brother/father. They are guided by Hannah (Anita Briem ), the young daughter of the Vernist who went missing with Trevor’s bother. After adverse circumstances force them to journey deep into the mountain, they realize that the Vernists were right and find themselves in the land underneath the land Vern wrote about and that they only have 48 hours to make it out alive before the weather becomes too hot to endure.
All three of the main actors do well in the roles, and are able to maintain the audience’s attention and affections to what is otherwise a pretty lackluster storyline. Frasier is likeable as always, although it is not his best role. (However this one is far better than the latest Mummy film, which just seems to get worse the more I think about it.)
However what really makes this film worthwhile is the 3D graphics. This is the first live action film to be shot in 3D and it is clear that 3D cinema has come a long way over the years. The graphics are stunning and realistic, particularly the mountain scenery which makes you feel like you’re really standing there with them.
The film is at times is a bit gimmicky. Several scenes are simply there to play with the 3D effects, which while entertaining add nothing to the story. And at times the film seems more like a video game, particularly a scene when Sean is jumping across floating rocks. However the story is enough to keep us interested and the charisma of the actors and stunning 3D effects gets the film over the line, making it an enjoyable experience.

7.5/10

'The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor' Review

2008-09-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

The Mummy returns for its third installment after 7 years. This one is set in China, where Alex O’Connell awakens an ancient Chinese Emperor who is once again hell bent on taking over the world.
The change of setting however is not the only change for this film. Director Rob Cohen takes over the reign as director from Stephen Sommers who also wrote the screenplay for the first two films. Cohen brings a more action orientated feel to this one, not surprisingly following his hits with XXX and the Fast and the Furious. Consequentially the trademark humor of the first two films is sadly missing, save for a couple of scenes. The dialogue is also lacking from the Stephen Sommers screenplays.
Frasier as Rick O’Connell and John Hannah as his brother in law Jonathon return for this one, however Oscar winner Weisz does not return as Evelyn O’Connell. She is replaced by Maria Bello. Bello has a huge gap to fill and she does quite well. Unfortunately however she and Frasier just do not share the same chemistry as he did with Weisz. Aussie actor Luke Ford also does well in his first feature film lead role; however he lacks the charisma of the likes of Frasier.
Jet Li seems wasted in his role as the Dragon Emperor as he has very little dialogue and hardly any fight scenes. Why they would hire one of the best martial arts fighters in the world as the bad guy and then not even use him is beyond me.
The action sequences are thrilling and the special effects are improved. However ultimately it is Brendan Frasier’s trademark charm that is able to hold the movie together. Although it is a little disappointing when compared to the previous two films.

6/10

'The Mummy Returns' Review

2008-09-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

The mummy franchise returns with a new threat to civilization. This film boasts two mummies for Rick and Evyln to destroy. In this one their son is captured by the Mummy, played by Arnold Vosloo returning from the original, and is being taken to the temple of the scorpion King (the Rock) where he intends to defeat him and use his army to take over the world.
Most of the original actors are back on board, once again led by Brendan Frasier. The cast settled into their roles more this time and seem to be just having fun. And the film seems to benefit from this. The addition of Sean Parks as Rick’s old friend is also an excellent choice, providing much of the film’s comic relief. Child actor Freddie Boath does a good job as Rick and Evyln’s son.
It’s refreshing to see that the film doesn’t take itself too seriously and doesn’t mind poking fun at itself. There’s plenty of self depreciating humor. Take for instance the films trailer which bills it as ‘the film that just wont die’.
As you’d expect the special effects are improved on this one, allowing for even more stunning and larger-scale action sequences. The dialogue is witty and the jokes are plenty. Anyone who liked the first Mummy film won’t be disappointed with this one.

8.5/10

'The Mummy' Review

2008-09-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

In the Mummy, a group of archeologists led by Rick O’Connell (Brendan Frasier) and Evlyn Carnahan (Rachel Weisz) travel to the lost city of Hamunaptra in search of the treasure said to be buried there they accidently wake up a 2000 year old mummy hell bent on destroying the world in his bed to bring his lover back to life.
The film is a remake of the 1932 film of the same name. This one however is not a horror film at all. Rather it is an action/adventure film mixed with a bit of comedy in the same vein as the Indiana Jones films.
The film boasts excellent special effects for its time. The transformation of the mummy from his undead form to flesh is superb. And a scene in which Frasier is flying from a sandstorm which takes the form of the mummy’s face is particularly breath-taking.
The film’s strength is its cast. Frasier and Weisz are excellent in the lead roles, capturing our attention for the film. The supporting cast of John Hannah, Keven O’Conner, Oded Fehr provides the extra spark the film needs.
There is nothing particularly original here, but the action sequences are thrilling, the characters are endearing and the film is humorous and entertaining.

8/10

'the Longest Yard' Review

2008-09-09T08:49:00.001-07:00

The longest yard takes the typical underdog sports movie and places it in a prison setting, where disgraced football star Paul Crewe is brought to assemble a team of inmates to play the guards. The longest yard doesn’t exactly offer a realistic portrayal of prison life, but it is entertaining.
The film is a remake of the 1974 movie starring Burt Reynolds. This one by-passes much of the sentiment of the original but makes up for it in greater laughs.
One of the film’s main strengths is host of likeable, led by Adam Sandler in the lead role and Chris Rock. The film’s host of colorful characters may be shallow and one dimensional; however they are fun to watch.
Highlights include a late guest appearance by Rob Schneider, a secret video of an inmate’s affair and a prison cheer squad made of the most feminine inmates; ‘they may not be pretty now but in 8 months they’ll look like Beyonce’.
The film is quite predictable and forgettable, but it is worth seeing.

6.5/10

'Vantage Point' Review

2008-09-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

Vantage Point is a typical action/thriller involving terrorism, presidential assassination and government conspiracies. However what makes Vantage Point stand out from the pack is that in this case the story is told from eight different perspectives.
However while this is an interesting premise, overall it has been poorly executed. The eight points of view are in fact not all that different and, for the most part, fail to reveal any new information regarding the assassination. The storylines tend to overlap a little as well. It becomes a little too repetitive; leaving you thinking that it could just as easily be told traditionally
The acting also leaves a lot to be desired in places, particularly Denise Quad in the lead role, although this is often the case with action movies.
The film does deliver on the action, providing a thrilling ride for the viewer. The car chase scene in particular is exciting.
The film may have not quite met its expectations as far its attempted premise; however a series of heart pumping action sequences will still be enough to keep many people entertained.

6/10

'Fun with Dick and Jane' Review

2008-09-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

Fun with Dick and Jane is a farcical look at the pitfalls of a capitalist society. Dick (Jim Carey) earns a promotion only to find out that the CEO of his company has been cheating the system and the company goes bankrupt. Unable to find a job because of his association with the tarnished company, Dick and his wife Jane (Téa Leoni)soon find themselves facing the prospect of being homeless. This forces Dick and Jane to turn to a life of crime in order to realize the American dream.
The film is a remake of the 1977 film of the same name. However this one comes with a more modern flair inspired by the real life collapse of Enron, whose misrepresentation of the companies profits mirrors that of the Dick's company.
The highlights come courtesy of some trademark Carey brilliance as well as a couple of cleverly written scenes, for instance when Dick and his wife decide to rob a Starbucks for a cup of coffee. However throughout much of the film we are simply left feeling sorry for Dick and Jane and the hopeless situation they have found themselves in through no fault of their own.This is because ultimately it is driven more by its political statement about modern society rather than its comedic value.
The film ends on a high note however, leaving the best joke until the end. But I won’t tell you what it is; you’ll have to find out for yourself.

6.5/10

'Tropic Thunder' Review

2008-08-31T17:22:00.000-07:00

Ben Stiller’s first directing role since Zoolander leaves the Stiller with a perfect record for producing hit films.
The script, which is co-written by Stiller, tells the story of a group of prima-dona actors who in making a war movie, find themselves in a real-life war situation and having to come together if they are to survive.
As you’d expect from the director of Zoolander, and a cast that includes Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downy Jr., the film’s acting and sense of humor is way over the top, however this seems to work in the film’s favor and no one actor outshines anyone – a credit to Stiller’s directing.
The film’s intro is one of the most original, featuring film previews for the film’s main characters, leaving the audience unsure as to whether the film has started.
It is a film that is sure to offend everyone, as it pokes fun at everyone from the mentally challenged to homosexuals. However it’s over the top humor doesn’t fail to please.

8.5/10

'Futurama:the Beast with A Billion Backs' Review

2008-08-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

The Futurama franchise continues its comeback through its second feature length outing and is showing no signs of slowing down. While the first Futurama movie took itself a bit too seriously and appears to try a bit too hard to be a coherent film, this one is back to the shows random best.
The story centre’s around a tear in space allowing a lonely alien, whose surface somehow resembles heaven, to ‘find some love’ in our universe. The fact that the plot at times seems to almost disappear, (which the film itself even pokes fun at through the professor who has to remind the crew what is going on in the story), doesn’t matter as it manages to deliver on the laughs. And when it comes down to it, that’s all that really matters, isn’t it? This is Futurama after all.
While the show still appears to lend itself better to the 30 minute TV format, (some of its most memorable moments even come in the shows 5 minute ‘what if’ scenarios), the film is an improvement on the first. Hopefully the series will continue to get better with the next two movies and perhaps even more episodes to follow.

7/10

'Star Wars: Clone Wars' Review

2008-08-31T08:47:00.001-07:00

After years of waiting for a return to the Star Wars world that fans loved so much, it’s fair to say that the recent trilogy was rather disappointing. Many of the films adult fans cringed when instead of the charismatic characters they remembered they found such childish characters as the cringe worthy Jar Jar Binks. It’s safe to say that those fans waiting for a return to the magic of the classic series will still be waiting after seeing this film.
The new trilogy may have failed to find its audience. Its immature dialogue and dim-witted characters alienated adult audiences, while its high levels of violence may have been a little too much for some of its younger viewers. This latest edition however is unashamedly a children’s movie. And once this fact is taken into account the film is actually not that bad.
The Clone Wars takes place in the middle of the ‘Clone Wars’ and follows the story of Anakin and his new padawan as they attempt to find and return Jabba’s ‘punky muffin’ so that a deal can be struck between the Huts and the Republic, allowing them to use their ‘hyperspace lanes’ in the war effort.
The stylized computer animation of the characters manages to rework the films images for a younger audience, setting itself apart from the much more sleek and realistic production of the previous movies. It contains countless battle scenes that are sure to excite young audiences, as well as genuine moments of warmth and humor.
The film, which is a prelude to an upcoming Cartoon Network series, is sure to be a big hit with pre-teen boys. However more mature audiences thinking of watching the film should save themselves the time, the money and the disappointment.

6/10