Manuel on Movies #11

Yeah, it has been a week again since I have posted. Why? Well, I said to myself that my next post had to be more movie reviews as I had a bunch saved up, but as it takes a while to crank out these reviews (my own fault), I have just been putting it off. Sure, I could have saved it for later and posted something else, but that would be much too easy. So, enough talk...

Pineapple Express - I feel like I might have done this one, but can't seem to find it anywhere. Maybe I just imagined it. This is another Judd Apatow produced films. So far, my level of satisfaction with his movies has been varied. He has had some I loved ( Stepbrothers, Knocked Up, Superbad), some that were pretty good (40 year old virgin, Walk Hard) and some that I didn't care for that much (Sarah Marshall, Anchor Man). So how was this one? Eh. I honestly didn't think it was that good. It had a few funny parts, but I felt it went too long and by the end, I couldn't wait for it to be over. I had heard so many good things about it, but it just didn't do it for me. No, I also don't think I "didn't get the humor" because I am not a stoner. I can appreciate good humor and I just didn't find much in it. James Franco did an excellent job, but I felt Rogen was subpar in the film. Just eh. 6 out of 10

Doomsday - I checked this one out based on a couple of good recommendations despite the fact that it looked like action garbage. I was pleasantly surprised. This is a post apocalyptic type film that has a decent story and some great action scenes. Basically, without giving too much away, the back story tells us a virus spread through Great Britain and to contain it, the government evacuates the healthy and puts a giant wall around the infected area, trapping people inside with no hope of getting out. Decades later, the virus returns outside the quarantined zone and a group of people are sent back into the quarantined zone to see if they can find a cure. The film reminded me of a mixture of the Mad Max movies, 28 days later (No zombies though), and No Escape. The film has some great action and some enjoyably violent moments. 7 out of 10

Friday the 13th (2009) - This is the remake of the "classic" horror film. Truth be told, I liked it better than the original. Although they basically have the same elements, I enjoyed this one more simply because the original hasn't aged super well. Granted, this isn't high art, but it had everything I was looking for in a Friday the 13th movie. Violence. Check. Awesome kills. Check. Hot girls. Check. Nudity. Check. That right there pretty much sums up the movie and anyone who watches the movie and is surprised that any of these thins appeared in the film are probably not part of the demographic the movie makers were going for. I got out of it exactly what I wanted. 7.5 out of 10

In Bruges - This was an outstanding movie and much of this has to do with its leads, Colin Farrel and Brendan Gleesen. They are two assassins hiding out in the city of Bruges while things cool down and they await their next orders from their boss. While there, they meet locals, ponder life and death, and engage in a lot of witty banter. It may not seem like a lot, two guys just hanging out in a town they don't want to be in, but this was a wonderful black comedy. This was one of the films that really pulls you in and makes you really care about what happens to the characters. In the end, I just thought to myself, "Wow, now that was a great movie." This comes highly recommended. 9 out of 10.

Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - This should tell you all you need to know - while looking through my list of recently viewed movies on Netflix, I came across this and said, "Oh yeah, I forgot I even saw that." Yes, it was that forgetable. I LOVED the first Mummy movie and felt it had the potential to be the next Indiana Jones type series. The second one was pretty good, but below the second one. Years later, they released this third installment and it looks like it should have remained unmade. Well, it wasn't a bad movie, but it just felt dated, something that a NEW movie should not be. It is mindless family entertainment, but just not that good. 5 out of 10

Untraceable - I love serial killer movies. This one was kind of cool in that all the murders were broadcast for all to see. Although, technically, the "killer" wasn't the one doing the murders. In case you don't know the plot, the killer kidnaps people and then hooks up the person to a contraption that kills the victim faster and faster according to how many people log on to a website to watch the murder happen. Basically, if nobody was on the site, the person wouldn't die, but we know how we are as a society and how we react when people tell us not to look at something. It is somewhat suspenseful and basically, if you like movies where people are trying to find a killer, you should enjoy this one as well. 7 out of 10.

Midnight Meat Train - I also saw this movie based on a few recommendations after it appeared on a few Top Ten horror movies of the year lists. I am glad I checked it out and can recommend it because now that I have seen it, I tell people about it and almost nobody had heard of it. Basically, the movie centers around a guy (the always awesome Vinnie Jones) who murders people on a subway train at night. A photographer gets curious about the murders and sets out to solve the murders. Seems pretty straightforward, but this movie took it to the next level when it comes to gore. This had some BLOODY deaths, some of them with the help of CGI, but bloody nonetheless. Jessica was actually cringing at some points and for the most part, she loves stuff like this. But, when the main weapon of choice is a steel meat tenderizer the size of shotgun, you are in for some gruesome deaths. I especially love the eyes flying out of a victim's head. Great stuff. This has an interesting ending and I don't want to say much else so as to not give anything away, but overall, I really liked this movie. This had some pretty intense scenes and I imagine that if I had seen it in the theaters, it might have been almost too much. 8.5 out of 10.

Kicking It - This is a documentary about the players who participated in the 4th annual Homeless World Cup of soccer. Yes, this exists. Basically, countries put together teams of players who are homeless and take them to compete against countries from around the world. The film focuses on a handful of players, documenting how they got to this point in their life and how being in the tournament affects them. It is interesting to see the homeless issue from different countries. Part sad, part touching, you really don't have to enjoy soccer to enjoy this documentary. But, it is amazing how a game can bring so much hope to people who really don't have much of it. 7.5 out of 10.