The Lone Ranger

A modern, big-budget version of “The Lone Ranger” starring Johnny Depp was always a strange proposition. The property had long been dormant, even though the name still carries recognition. Johnny Depp is also not the first person you’d think of to play a Native American, either, in spite of his questionable claims of Cherokee heritage. Then production woes set in, with major budget revisions and release date shuffling.

And indeed, the resulting film is strange. For a big budget spectacle movie, it’s quirky, long and offbeat. The titular character is more of a punching bag for jokes than an actual hero, the villains are outright old-timey mustache twirlers, and the sidekick is the star of the show.

Yet it’s certainly not without its charms and entertainment value. Patient viewers (and those that latch on to Depp’s odd, humorous Tonto) will be rewarded with a funny, fun summer action film.

The 2013 Summer Movie Preview – Part 2

Ok, everyone, here we go! The second half of the Summer slate for 2013! There’s plenty of big movies in store, and of course, a handful of DOAs.

Click through to check out the second half of this Summer!

Les Misérables

I wishhhh…

That I could sing my review to you!

Then you would knowwww…

What Les Mis has in store for you!

I don’t know why I bothered to rhyme that, ’cause Les Mis didn’t.

They just sing their lines in rythym

For 2 hours and 40 minutes!

Dark Shadows

Having never seen the original TV Show, I had no idea what to expect from this film when it was in production. I had heard it was a gothic supernatural soap opera, so when the trailers came out positioning the movie as a comedy, I was surprised…

Well, as it turns out, Director Tim Burton tries to have it both ways and the results are disappointing. The movie certainly does have its share of comedic moments, but it never abandons the Gothic drama. As such the movie “straddles the fence” a little, and that turns out to be a poor choice.

Now Showing on Cable: “The King’s Speech”

Now making the rounds on Showtime is 2010’s “The King’s Speech”.

Starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, “The King’s Speech” is the story of a British Royal with a debilitating speech impediment. He has a nearly paralyzing stammer. He seeks the help of a speech therapist and the two of them work towards his recovery.

The film was the recipient of last year’s Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Colin Firth) Best Screenplay and Best Director (Tom Hooper).

The question before us is, was it deserving?

Now showing on cable: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I”

Premiering this weekend on HBO was the penultimate movie in the Harry Potter franchise, 2010’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I”.

When I think of the final two “Harry Potter” movies, the analogy I can’t resist is the 1998 movie “Twins”.

In it, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito play a couple of genetically engineered twins, separated at birth. The gag is, Ahnuld was spawned from the most desirable elements of the genetic code, and DeVito was created from the residual elements.

To me, that’s how I feel about the final two “Potter” movies. The second part is a nonstop explosion of action, character reveals, battle scenes and resolutions. It’s a phenomenal movie, a genuine big ticket movie.

This one? Not so much.

Movies That Everyone Should See: “Fight Club”

Does writing about Fight Club violate the first rule of Fight Club?

“Fight Club” is based on a 1996 novel by Chuck Palahniuk. To call Palahniuk’s works “disturbing” is an understatement. It was directed by David Fincher, director of Se7en, Zodiac, and the upcoming “The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo” (among others). To say he has a knack for “disturbing” is also an understatement.

It was a perfect match of material and movie maker. The end result was a roaring tornado of a movie about masculinity, society and sanity.

“Fight Club”.