KUNG FU PANDA 2 (2011)

Every year there are few animations comes out which will make you say wow that’s fantastic. And out of that one or two makes your eye brows go higher beyond its capability, and laugh out loud from corner to corner of your face. And this year NO DOUBT that animation is Kung Fu Panda the second edition. 

We all have seeing the first movie and sure enjoyed it like hell (Just saying no one really enjoys hell but if that movie was shown in hell that would have made lot of sinful poor souls happy!) And there was this awesome animation character named PO a Panda from the land of ancient China and his side kick Kung Fu friends. The characters just plainly evolve in this second movie as well. And now they are a gang of fighter who protect their land with the new Dragon Warrior Po. But Po seems to be the same old funny and not so heroic character time to time. 

In this edition Po is challenged by an Evil Peacock Lord Shen from the Gongmen city who is a threatening the whole China with a new secret weapon in hand. And later Po finds out that Lord Shen was his enemy from the childhood and discovers his sad origins as well. 

The plot may not be totally unique as this is the second edition but the spirits run high. The character creations are awesome and so do the voice acting. Don’t even have to mention that the animation is kick ass because most of you will not expect anything less. 

Simply put Kung Fun Panda 2 is a must watch. No excuses!

My Score 4/5

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Action

Director:  Jennifer Yuh

Writers: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger

Stars:  Jack Black, Angelina Jolie and Jackie Chan

MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS (2011)

Jim Carrey is not the kind which makes you a disappointed viewer. There may be a movie which does not live up to standards on the plots but Carrey always make sure that his part is covered. Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a good example. It’s funny, light and makes you feel a little bit happier than most other flicks that come out with animal themes. 

Mr. Popper is a successful but a lonely business man. After the divorce seems like his wife or the two kids doesn’t really like to hang out with him. Surprisingly his father sends him 6 penguins and writes him an emotional letter on his deathbed. Though Popper was reluctant to keep the Penguins at his luxury condo at first, he finds that there is no better choice as his kids starts to get very fond of the creatures. 

The plot is not totally the interesting type. It’s quite predictable and sometimes does not make much sense. But it’s not hard to get through. It has more of Disney movie characteristics than a Jim Carrey movie. There are no special cinematography credits or extra special performances or music too. What might be the key to making the flick watchable is the performance by Carrey and the cute set of Penguins. And I’m sure more of them are not real but animations. But done quite cleverly I must say. 

My Score 3/5

Genre: Comedy, Family

Director: Mark Waters

Writers: Sean Anders (screenplay), John Morris (screenplay)

Stars: Jim Carrey, Carla Gugino and Angela Lansbury

CAPTAIN AMERICA - THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)

When the skinny small man Steve Rogers wants to join the army at the time of WWii it seems to be almost impossible. After failing 5 times doing so, for his luck he manages to join a strategic scientific experiment unit of USA army. After undergoing an experiment his body reaches the ultimate human performance. Proving his capability of fighting the war and becoming a hero Steve steps up to the front line with the nick name Captain America. His mission is to defeat the evil Schmidt of the German army who heads the Hydra project which threatens to destroy the major cities of the world.   Schmidt aka Red Scull posses a secret energy source which is ultimate.

Captain America – The First Avenger is not one of those super hero movies which are filled with earth shattering action sequences.  But it preserves the comic style well. And starting from cinematography to performance it stands out among the mundane super hero wave of movies. Furthermore as he is not really a super hero with exceptional abilities just like Bat Man there is a sense of humanity in him. And the plot surrounds him with the good which he offers from his unique abilities and truthful desire. 

As the movie ends with the hopes of a second installment which takes place in the present times, I sure hope that next will be a bit bigger in every aspect. 

My Score 3.5/5

Genre: Action, Adventure

Director: Joe Johnston

Writers: Christopher Markus (screenplay), Stephen McFeely (screenplay)

Stars: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving and Samuel L. Jackson

CARS 2 (2011)

When the first movie ‘Cars’ came out it was like one of the best works of Pixar by then. And to be honest one of the best animations that hit the screen back then. It was amusing and had a wonderful story line mixed with good humor and breathtaking scenes. However that charisma seems to have faded away with Cars 2. Simply you don’t feel it like you used to be. But that doesn’t mean that it’s a totally bad movie. There is lots of good stuff in this. 

This time also the story evolves around the famous race car Lightning McQueen and his friend the tow truck Mater. After accepting a challenge from a car which runs from alternative fuel to gasoline the duo leaves the Radiator Springs in order to bring home another cup. However once they start to race Mater realizes that the race is a cover up for a big plan to make the gasoline more popular and at the end his best friend’s life is in danger. 

More than Lightning McQueen the story this time is rolled out based on Mater. The comic, romantic and even the heroic character is the old rugged tow truck. And to support the plot there is plenty of good animation lines up. There are some stunning sequences which is worth watching. 

However like I mentioned before that feeling of Cars is lost in this flick. Maybe I expected more than it was suppose to but then again I’m just a regular adult fan. And most of the good animations are capable of moving adults to the theater without hesitation. 

My Score 3/5

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Directors: John Lasseter, Brad Lewis

Writers:  Ben Queen (screenplay), John Lasseter (story)  

Stars: Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy and Michael Caine

FLYPAPER (2011)

First of all it’s not really easy to categorize this movie. Before writing this review I spent a little time wondering to review it as a comedy or a thriller or just as a dumb movie. Whichever it is what’s certain is that it does live up to the last category I mentioned. 

When a bank is robbed by two gangs of bank robbers at once the hostages tries to find a way out. The plot is sounds like it got something really interesting. But ‘only’ if the plot was taken serious. But sadly here it’s not. The plot is just a big flop as both gangs of bank robbers seems to be like quite dumb and the hostages are freely roaming inside the bank time to time will make you figure out why.

And it’s filled with a ship load of stupid scenarios that on the way you might actually loose the track of what’s really going on. Some might call them ‘twists’ in the story but I don’t think so. Twists suppose to be making the story better. But not dumb to dumber. 

Maybe the director wanted to play it this way so that it’s a novel movie experience to the audience but what I think is that audience is quite disappointed. 

There is hardly anything good and interesting about Flypaper. Only few comedy scenes makes it’s a little worth. 

You should do yourself a favor and skip this one!

My Score 2/5

Genre: Comedy, Crime

Director: Rob Minkoff

Writers: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Stars: Ashley Judd, Patrick Dempsey and Octavia Spencer

RED STATE (2011)

It was too late when 3 teens who were looking for out of the ordinary exiting sex, realized that the online invitation they got was a fake one. They have become the pray of an extreme fundamentalists and a piece of a vicious movement of wiping out the sinners including gays and pre marital sex activities. They will be facing their scariest nightmare when they realize that they are on a death row and an even worse enemy when they decide to get out. 

Red State is a brutal and a scary movie. And maybe some of the scenes could be hard to handle for weak hearted. Yet the events that take place in it add strong ingredients for the movies success. 

The acting is very good. Especially the strong portrayal of the Abin Coopers character by Michael Parks. He just pumps in so much energy to the plot and being the bad guy the viewers might wanna rip him apart. 

This may not be one of the best movies. But it sure can keep you in one place and throw you with some mind blowing realities to think about. 

My Score 3.5/5

Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller

Director: Kevin Smith

Writer: Kevin Smith

Stars: Michael Parks, Melissa Leo and John Goodman

HORRIBLE BOSSES (2011)

Horrible Bosses - Probably the best comedy I have seeing this year. It has a super awesome plot and filled with spine cracking humor. Have no doubt this will make you remember some awesome lines about Toyota Prius!

The plot is simple. Three friends are approaching the end of their patience barrier with their bosses. So they come up with a wicked plan to murder their bosses and goes to hire a hit man. Ultimately the hit man turns out to be not so expected and the guys themselves end up doing all the dirty work. In the process of killing their bosses fate takes unexpected turns.

This flick is awesome in every step of the way. From start where the characters are introduced and up to where the titles roll with outtakes it’s a straight forward joy ride of comedy. Some of the stuff these guys do and what they face is downright hilarious. 

Don’t miss it!

My Score 3.5/5

Genre: Comedy

Director: Seth Gordon

Writers: Michael Markowitz (screenplay), John Francis Daley (screenplay),

Stars: Jason Batman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis

TRUE LEGEND (2010)

For the martial art action fan and the Chinese movie enthusiast this flick is just total heaven. It will engulf you with breathtaking fighting action sequences and eye popping cinematography from start to end. And to add more icing to the cake it comes with a good plot which at times will shake you with emotion and then boost you with courage. 

I don’t have to write long paragraphs about the plot of how cool this flick is overall. If you know how the Chinese martial art movies work, this is nothing extraordinary. There is lot of fighting with weapons and bare hands and then there is quite a bit of cable work as well. But at the end it speaks of a fighter who looses a lot and tries to gain them back while fighting the evil. 

My Score 3/5

Genre: Action, Drama

Director: Woo-ping Yuen

Writer: Chi-long To (screenplay)

Stars: Man Cheuk Chiu, Xun Zhou and Michelle Yeoh

OLD SCHOOL (2003)

Old School is about 3 grown up men who are hitting their 30s fed up with their family lives and relationships and seeking to do something new and interesting. So they start a fraternity club with all other intentions in their minds. And when their rented house is threatened to be taken over by the college campus they have to prove some points in order to save the club and the house. 

This flick is filled with good humor start to end. And it’s obvious when Will Farrell teams up with Vince Voughn and Luke Wilson is caught up in the middle. These three portray the somewhat crazy yet ambitious men who stand up to what they believe in.

A good run for the comedy lovers indeed!

My Score: 3/5

Genre: Comedy

Director: Todd Phillips

Writers: Court Crandall (story), Todd Phillips (story)

Stars: Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell

GREEN LANTERN (2011)

There were several superhero movies hitting the screen this year. Some were cheesy and some were not up to the point of creating that much interested. But ‘Green Lantern’ is one which that keeps up to the superhero expectations. 

Created based on the famous Green Lantern comic character, this is the story of a young man named Hal (who lives on earth by the way) is getting selected to be a ultimate universe protecting squad named Green Lanterns. He gets supreme super powers and even the ability to cross universes without a spaceship! But the thrill of the new appointment soon fades away with the arrival of an eminent threat that he has to protect earth from. While fighting the bad guys he finds love with a beautiful woman whom he knew from childhood. 

Green Lantern is a straight forward movie. Feels like you are reading a comic when the story unfolds and the graphics and visual effects sets a good standard. There is a good load of action, thrill, romance and humor to keep you glued to it. I watched the extended version which is little over 2 hours long but still it was an easy watch. There is nothing boring. 

My Score 3.5

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Director: Martin Campbell

Writers: Greg Berlanti (screenplay), Michael Green (screenplay)

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and Peter Sarsgaard