"B" Gone

Let's finish off the Bs!

Movie Review #38 - Breakdown

You better pray she's still alive. 

I love Breakdown because it's 90 minutes of nonstop action.  Well, it isn't an action movie per say, but a great thriller that never has any lulls from start to finish.  I think part of what makes the movie so good is that it is so believable.  What happens in the movie really could happen to anyone so we can all relate to what happens in the film.  We can all question what we would do in Kurt Russell's situation.

And speaking of Kurt Russell, man, he is just so good in everything he does, isn't he?  Seriously, he's awesome, and I wish he was doing a lot more movies nowadays.  I can still see him as a leading man and certainly, with the revival of 80s action stars, could still be a great action star.  He is so believable as the man desperate to find his kidnapped wife.  Breakdown is cool because it is one of the movies that you find on TV and even though you have seen it a million times, you sit down and watch it.  High entertainment with little need for concentration is a perfect formula for a movie.

7.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

 Movie Review #39 - Breakin'

OZONE!  STREET DANCER! 

Ah, Breakin' maybe the worst movie that I can officially call one of my favorites.  Well, that title may actually go to the sequel.  The story isn't TOO bad, in fact, I think it is a pretty inspirational story once you get down to the meat and bones of it, but it is full of so much cheese and so much bad acting that it would be hard to classify it as anything other than a B movie.

But you know what, I still love it.  I grew up with and and saw it so many times.  I love the soundtrack even though it isn't something I normally listen to.  I love the amazing dancing they do in the film.  I think it is fairly humorous and the characters, while mostly one dimensional, are pretty likable.  And going back to the story, when everything works out for them in the end, I get a giant smile on my face.  I get teased for liking the film, but I have no problem saying how much I like this film (even if it isn't very good).

5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #40 - Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo

We made it, we made it!  Thank you!  Thank you!

Ok, maybe this is the worst of my favorite films.  I at least have to hand it to the writers of the film.  A lot of terrible sequels fall in to the trap of simply rehashing the plot from the first film in a different manner.  This film, while generic, is at least different from the first film.  But it does get cheesier.  The hospital dance scene may be the worst scene in the history of the film if it wasn't for the dancing scene at McDonald's in Mac n Me.
 And the acting seems to have gotten worse.  You would think that acting would improve, but that is not the case.  The director also falls into the trap of, "Well, the story is pretty weak, why don't we just keep putting in song and dance numbers?"  But again, it entertains the hell out of me!  I love these three main characters with Kelly (Lucinda Dickey) at the top because she has the best acting skills of the group and, she's way hot.  I know I didn't pay attention to that as a kid, but now when I see the film, I have a total crush on her.

How is this the only pic of her that came up from the movie on Google?

 While not a good movie, it still holds a special place in my heart.  It is perfect 80s cheese.  Everyone has certain movies that defy reason as to why they like them.  Breakin' and its sequel are mine.  They are memorable and not just for the scene below from Electric Boogaloo.

I'm sorry.  

5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #41 - Brokeback Mountain

I wish I knew how to quit you.

Probably the greatest love story I have seen on film and it is between two guys.  It shouldn't matter, but there are many people who won't see this movie or take it seriously just because of that fact.  I say that their closed mind is making them miss out.  This is an absolutely beautiful movie that was totally robbed of the Best Picture win when it came out.  The fact that it led to so many jokes is understandable considering the world we live in, but for those with an open mind, it is a perfect movie.

While the story is very well written and visually beautiful, the main kudos have to go the acting performances on screen.  This is probably the first time I have seen the movie since Ledger's death and between this and his Joker role, it is devastating to know that we lost such an amazing talent.  He would have been one of the best actors over the next 40+ years with talent like that.  Gyllenhaal and the rest of the cast are also amazing, but it is Ledger who carries this story.  And a what a perfect story it is.

9.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #42 - Bruce Almighty

God, why do you hate me? 

I have NEVER laughed harder in a theater than I did with this scene. 





Yes, it is goofy and childish, but man, this scene had me laughing obnoxiously to the point that people turned around and looked at me like I had a second head.  If that was the only funny scene in the film, it could be considered a disappointment, but I crack up from start to finish.  Jim Carrey is again at the top of his game and besides the comedy in the film, it also has a lot of heart with a good lesson.  Heck, I would even go so far as to almost call this movie religious preaching because of the lessons learned in the film.  Too bad some church goers would never see it because Carrey is in it.  Very funny without ever getting too far into the silly department, this is one my favorite Carrey movies and overall comedies.

7.5 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #43 - A Bug's Life  

 It's the same year after year, they come, they eat, they leave; that's our lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's our life.

For the most part, Pixar makes outstanding movies.  There have been a couple of missteps, but overall, they can do no wrong.  This movie kind of falls in between their great movies and their average movies.  While nothing special (it doesn't have that touching/life lesson aspect that the best Pixar films have), it is cute.  The characters are all fun and it has some great voice over work.  But in the end, that is all it is - cute.  It doesn't stick with me after or make me want to watch it again in the immediate future.  I actually think the best part of the film is the credits where they made some fake bloopers.  When the credits are the most memorable part of the film, the part you don't want to end, I think that says a little something about the film.  Don't get me wrong, this is NOT a bad film, but it is not quite up to Pixar's high quality standards.

6 out of 10 cheeseburgers

Movie Review #44 - Butterfly Effect

You can't play God, son. 

I can't believe that a movie starring Ashton Kutcher stuck with me the way this one did.  I can't believe that Ashton Kutcher did a convincing job as an actor.  But both of those things did happen in this movie and it led to a pretty memorable movie that left me thinking, "What if?" to a lot of decisions in my life.  

This movie does a really good job of making you see how little decisions in life can lead to completely different outcomes in your life.  Of course, they do it to the extreme in a pretty creepy manner, but it gets the point across.  And going back to Kutcher, I actually thought he was outstanding in this film.  This isn't something he should be winning an acting award or anything, but for his standards, he did a really great job.  You really feel for him as he tries to go back and right all his wrongs. 

That leads to me to the final scene in the film.  We saw this film in the theaters and I love how the ending, while not a happy ending, does give some positive closure to the story.  On the DVD we own, it does have the Director's Cut ending which is one of the most asinine endings I have ever seen in a film.  How the director though this was a better ending is beyond me because of how absurd it is, but I am sure happy that with the theatrical release, they chose to not go in that direction. 

7 out of 10 cheeseburgers