I'm Still Here (September 16, 2010) R

Funniest comedy of 2010. Will be blogged soon.

Starring:
Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator, Her)
Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Out of the Furnace)

January 22, 2014:
I figure I should say something about this movie.  It's been years since I've seen it, but I still remember laughing really, really hard.

Joaquin Phoenix during his famous 2009 interview
with David Letterman
(Photo taken from nydailynews.com)

This was that "Is it real?  Is he really quitting acting to be an actor?" documentary movie starring Joaquin Phoenix, directed by his good friend Casey Affleck.

This film also contains that famous interview with Phoenix when he was on Letterman.  Best. Interview. Ever.

This movie is ridiculous, and only see it if you are a huge Joaquin Phoenix fan or else you'll be bored, even though it's histerical.

Factoid: This was Casey Affleck's directorial debut.

Salt (July 23, 2010) PG-13

Starring:
Angelina Jolie (Wanted 2008, Cleopatra 2013)
Liev Schreiber (X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2009)

There were original elements in this movie, yes, but the entire plot was enabled only by the incompitance of the entire government body and the complete lack of self-defense skills of every single Secret Service agent that Salt came in contact with. Government incompetence, sure I can get behind that, but are men who are so highly trained really so helpless?

Overall, I did not enjoy this movie. There were one or two "wow" moments, but there wasn't enough good stuff to compensate for where the movie lacked.

This is NOT a must see. Ever, even on DVD.

Factoid: Angelina Jolie actually had a "Spy Advisor" (click here http://morrisonworldnews.com/?p=22021 for the complete story) named Melissa Mahle who educated Jolie about disguises, adopting multiple personae, and living the act...

Charlie St. Cloud (July 30, 2010) PG

Starring:
Zach Efron (17 Again 2009, The Lucky One 2012)
Charlie Tahan (Nights in Rodanthe 2009)
Amanda Crew (She's the Man 2006, Repeaters 2011)
Ray Liotta (Smokin' Aces 2006, The Son of No One 2011)

I hate to admit, I liked this movie.

Now, I'm not saying I liked this movie, cause I didn't. But I liked it. I enjoyed it.

Now I'm not saying I enjoyed it, but it was pleasant and enjoyable.

Pleasant, but immature in its simplicity. I thought the story would be original...

Basically, Amanda Crew is hot, and I hope to see more of her.

My favorite part, however, was the new kid on the block: Charlie Tahan. He plays Charlie's little brother, and he's histerical.

Factoid: Zach Efron and Charlie Tahan had to learn how to sail in order to do the opening scene of the movie.

The Expendables (August 13, 2010) R

Starring:
Sylvester Stallone (Judge Dredd 1995, The Zookeeper 2011)
Jason Statham (Crank 2006, Pretty, Baby, Machine 2011)
Randy Coutor (Invincible 2006)
Steve Austin (The Condemned 2007, The Boxer and the Kid 2011)
Jet Li (Hero 2002, New Dragon Gate Inn 2011)
Dolph Lundgren (Masters of the Universe 1987, Universal Soldier: The New Dimension 2011)
Charisma Carpenter (Angel 1999-2004, The Human Factor 2011)
Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight 2008, The Wayshower 2011)
Giselle Itei (The Mystery of Sintra 2007)
Terry Crews (Gamer 2009, Lottery Ticket 2010)
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler 2008, Pretty, Baby, Machine 2011)

I hoped for something incredible and unbelievable. I got EXACTLY what I wanted.

And how could you go wrong with the above-mentioned cast?! Terry Crews must be counting his blessings for having landed the role he got with the cast he worked with. He had the coolest gun of all, too... That gun freaked me out the first time. I was out of my seat.

And the action was like nothing I'd ever seen before.

Jet Li wore heavy combat boots that, I believe, slowed him down so he wasn't his usual quick, nimble self. Watching him fight was like watching a short white martial arts expert--it almost wasn't Jet Li. I liked seeing something different (for once) from Li.

And Stallone has still got it. Still ripped, still grabs your attention, and still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

The plot? Perhaps it's the simplicity of the plot that I loved so much.

This is a MUST SEE in theaters, and is NOT FOR THE FEINT OF HEART...

Factoid: Stallone is talking about a sequel...

The Other Guys (August 6, 2010) PG-13

Starring:
Will Ferrell (Stepbrothers 2008, Everything Must Go 2010)
Mark Wahlberg (We Own the Night 2007, The Fighter 2010)
Eva Mendes (We Own the Night 2007, Southbound 2010)

While Will Ferrell was his usual hilarious, predictably unpredictable self, it was Wahlberg who got the hard laughs out of me in The Other Guys. His anger and impatience made for histerical chemistry with Ferrell. It was new and unique.

Also, Eva Mendes was WAY hot.

Factoid: Rob Riggle gives tazers to school children in this movie. He did the same thing in The Hangover.

Predators (July 9, 2010) R

Starring:
Adrien Brody (The Jacket 2005, Midnight in Paris 2011)
Topher Grace (In Good Company 2004, The Double 2011)
Alice Braga (I Am Legend 2007, The Rite 2011)
Walter Goggins ("Justified" 2010, Cowboys & Aliens 2011)
Oleg Taktarov (Righteous Kill 2008, Ultimate Champion 2010)
Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix 1999, Contagion 2011)
Danny Trejo (The Devil's Rejects 2005, Machete 2010)

With Robert Rodriguez directing, I didn't know where this movie was going to go. That's one of the benefits of being a totally unpredictable director.

My roommate, Jason, and I agree that Predators is totally comparable to Predator and Predator 2.

The action was great.

The actors and characters were all perfect, totally perfect.

Lawrence Fishburne was freaking awesome.

And Topher Grace didn't ruin the movie like I though he might. He actually filled his role perfectly. That was my biggest peeve about this movie was that I thought they'd try to make Topher Grace out to be some kind of hardcore killer. I'm glad they didn't, cause Topher Grace is a pansy who ruined Spiderman 3 single-handedly.

The Predators in this movie were awesome, too. Not to be tangled with.

As seen in previews, the film also gives a much-desired insight into the Predator home world. Loved it. I want to see more.

I want a sequel. I want Robert Rodriguez to do another Predators movie.

Oh wait, he wants that too!!!

Not bad for a Twilight-sized budget...

Factoid: Rodriguez wrote this movie back in 1994, but 20th Century Fox denied it for budgeting reasons. The story presented in Predators is the same story Rodriguez wrote in 1994.

The A-Team (June 11, 2010) PG-13

Starring:
Liam Neeson (Taken 2008, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 2010)
Bradley Cooper (The Hangover 2009, The Hangover 2 2011)
Sharlto Copley (District 9 2009)
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (Death Warrior 2009, Duel of Legends 2011)
Jessica Biel (The Illusionist 2006, Nailed 2010)
Patrick Wilson (The Phantom of the Opera 2004, Morning Glory 2010)

Sharlto Copley (Howling Mad Murdock) is completely histerical! He was to The A-Team what James Franco was to Pineapple Express. The film would have been average without him.

Liam Neeson (Hannibal Smith) did a fantastic job (as expected) as well. His performance was matched by that of Bradley Cooper (Faceman) and Quinton Jackson ("B.A." Baracus).

I must confess also that I've never watched an episode of "The A-Team". I can't say whether or not this movie stayed true to the traditions of the 80s TV show.

The entire movie was filled with unique action and comedy.

For a remake, it was totally original.

Factoid: Filming The A-Team got Liam Neeson hooked on cigars again, after having abstained from them for 17 years. He said in an interview that the only preparation for this role he had to do involved preparing himself to smoke cigars again.