Speed Racer: Go Speed Go !

Directors: Andy and Larry Wachowski
Writers: Andy and Larry Wachowski
Producers: Grant Hill, Andy and Larry Wachowski, and Joe Silver,

Starring: Emile Hirsch as Speed, Susan Sarandon as Mom, John Goodman as Pop, Christina Ricci as Trixie, Matthew Fox as Racer X, Paulie Litt as Spritle, Willy and Kenzie as Chim Chim, Kick Gurry as Sparkie, and Scott Porter as Rex(IMDb). Rated-PG.

All Speed can think about is race car driving, and he wishes to be like his big brother Rex who is potentially the best race car driver in town. However, the world of racing is corrupt, and spearheaded by corporate giants who work with hoodlums who bribe crooked race car drivers. This is the lesson speed learns when he matures into the most exciting race car driver since his older brother Rex.

This film had a lot color, cartoon like in a way that was not so annoying. The cartoon like appearance in the film was executed nicely with astounding originality reminiscent of the live Dick Tracy(1990) film starring Al Pacino, and Warren Beatty. Very imaginative, and very different, with an overt childlike element that made the tone of the film delightfully silly.

Regarding the story, often it was difficult to anticipate where the story was going thus creating lag in the flow of the scenes. What was helpful however, was how the editing was used to explain the background of Speed concisely. Throughout the film the editing was an explanatory agent with a bit of fanciness, because the style of the editing that was used was amusing, but effective.

Over all this movie was OK. It was entertaining family fun and it's worth seeing on the big screen because of the special effects. The casting was good, and the actors had good chemistry on screen. According to Movies.com, the fans gave it a B, the critics gave it a C, and I will side with neither and grade it a C+. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.

Iron Man: To Peace!

Director: Jon Favreu
Writers: Mark Fergus, Hawk Hostby
Producers: Avi Arad, Kevin Feige

Starring: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/ Iron Man, Terrence Howard as Jim Rhodes, Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger, Gwyneth Paltrow as Virginia "Pepper" Potts, Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart, Shaun Toub as Yinsen, Faran Tahir as Raza, Sayed Badreya as Abu Bakaar(IMDb). Rated-PG13.

Tony Stark is in a military hummer being driven after a weapon presentation when a surprise attack from an insurgent group ultimately render him to captivity in a cave. The insurgent group instructs him to build his latest weapon, the Jericho, and they will set him free. Sensing he will not be set free, along with his captive Yinsen, who Tony has befriended, instead of building the Jericho, Tony builds the prototype of the iron man suit which helps him escape. Upon returning to the United States, and after witnessing how his weapons could be used, Tony decides to perfect his iron man suite to fight corruption.

This is a good introductory film that mainly expounded how Tony Stark became Iron Man. All the details that were delineated were key to making sure movie watchers understood the life of the superhero. Transformation was the main theme of this film as a lot time was spent explaining how Tony Stark developed from a genius/party animal to an affected human being who experienced tragedy. This is really a film about the origin of Iron Man, and thankfully the details of his origin were well provided.

One of the major drawbacks of this film was that, there was not enough Iron Man, but there was enough to keep me somewhat satisfied. Also, I was expecting more action, but the action that was in the film was satisfying. The ending, it was somewhat anticlimactic but it was not that bad.The pace of the film was great, and the casting was great, but this movie was a big tease. According to Movies.com, the fans and critics agree on a grade of A-, but I will side with neither and give it a B. Stay tuned Movieporium.blogspot.com.

Movie Favorites: Requiem for A Dream

I found this film moving and disturbing. Moving, because the main characters all had dreams, and I was hoping those dreams became a reality for them. Disturbing, because they all became psychologically damaged in some manner. The tone of this film was really good, and I felt that it sustained a steady level of induced melancholy that made one appreciate the struggle of the characters.

Deception: Intimacy Without Intricacy

Director: Marcel Langenegger
Writer: Mark Bomback
Producers: Robbie Brenner, David L. Bushell, Christopher Eberts, Hugh Jackman, John Palermo, Arnold Rifkin, and Marjorie Shik.

Starring: Hugh Jackman as Wyatt Bose, Ewan Mcgregor as Jonathan Mcquarry, Michelle Williams as S, Lisa Gay Hamilton as Detective Russo, Natasha Henstridge as The Wall Street Analyst, and Maggie Q as Tina(IMDb). Rated-R.

Wyatt and Jonathan are having lunch outside in a recreational area when Wyatt received an urgent phone call requesting that he travel to London. As he left in a hurry, he grabbed Jonathan's phone instead, and unknowingly Jonathan grabbed his. Later that evening Jonathan received several calls on Wyatt's phone asking him if he is open or available, and although he tried to explain that he had somebody else's phone, he ended up meeting with a hot woman who he drilled with the British meat-pipe. As Jonathan continued to drill several women, he met one he actually liked, but she ultimately placed him harms way.

Expectedly, there was sex in this movie but the sex was used in a rather crafty way in conveying the goal of the plot. At some point I did ask myself what did the sex club have to do with Wyatt's duplicity, and thankfully that was explained. The sex in the film did have a point, and although it was fun to watch, it was not that gratuitous.

The acting was great, and Ewan Mcgregor's role as the geeky accountant who contemplated the meaning of his life might appeal to those who work hard and never play. Hugh Jackman was great as well, and he acted it seemed according to what the character demanded of him, for Wyatt was introduced as cold and calculating, and not maniacal and crazy. Overall, the film was entertaining but I did not think it was edgy enough. According to Movies.com, the fans gave it a B, and the critics gave it a C-, and I will side with neither, and grade it a C. Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.

88 minutes: Tick Tock Doc

Director: Jon Avnet
Writer: Gary Scott Thompson
Producer(s): Jon Avnet, Randall Emmett, Michael P. Flannigan, George Furla, Avi Lerner, and Gary Scott Thompson.

Starring: Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Gramm, Alicia Witt as Kim Cummings, LeeLee Sobieski as Lauren Douglas, Amy Brenneman as Shelly Barnes, William Forsythe as Special Agent Frank Parks, and Neal Mcdonough as Jon Forster.

Nine years after Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Gramm provided his pivotal expert opinion which helped placed serial killer Jon Forster behind bars, women were being murdered in the exact manner Forster supposedly killed them. As a result, Forster began pleading his innocence, for if he his in prison and these murders are being committed, then he cannot be guilty of the crimes he was imprisoned for. Now, there is skepticism about Dr. Gramm's so called expert opinion. Amidst all the pressure he is under to reconsider his opinion, while walking on campus he receives a phone call communicating to him he will die in 88 minutes.

This movie drove me absolutely crazy because I was so sucked in as I tried to figure out what was going on. Dr. Gramm seemed to have almost gone crazy as well because he saw almost everyone as a suspect including his students. However, some of his students were not as trusting toward him either.

No time is waisted at all concerning the plot's development. The pace of the film does not lag, if my recollection serves me right. This is an incredibly focused film that does not allow complacency to sink in the plot for it keeps you intensely engaged. From one scene to the next there is a constant sense of urgency.

This story motif has been seen before with movies like Crank, and DOA. The acting was great and the script was not extraordinary but it was sufficient and relatively smart. The script primarily explained the film, but through the flash-backs the editing aslo helped the audience understand Dr. Gramm's thought process. This is an enjoyable, engaging, and suspenseful film, which admittedly is not absolutely original but quite entertaining regardless. According to Movies.com, critics gave it an F, fans gave it a C+, and I will side with the fans and give it a C+, Stay tuned, Movieporium.blogspot.com.