Andrew Warner

I could write a review of the summer blockbuster, but I think this one has it covered.

Highlights:

Despite its bum-numbing running time, Pirates 3 can barely keep up with the cast of characters we're supposedly rooting for - the upside of which is that Orlando Bloom is relegated to the bit-part status he deserves.

That just leaves Depp to stop the ship sinking. Only he doesn't. Within minutes it becomes horrifyingly apparent that two films was more than enough of Johnny's Cap'n Jack shtick. And, while he does provide a smattering of humorous lines, more often than not he's just plain irritating, especially when they have him chuntering away to his imaginary selves.

As I was reading through some of the reviews this morning (after seeing it last night), one thing is baffling me...

From Hollywood.com:

The movie’s long but definitely worth its weight in gold doubloons, giving just a whiff of possibility to a fourth one.

Anyone that's seen this movie knows they left us with more than a "whiff of possibility to a fourth one." Much like the end of the second, they practically used the conclusion to start the next film. For some reason, more than one critic missed the VERY heavy handed foretelling of another sequeal.

Labels: media, movies, random

Posted by Andrew Warner at 8:46 AM | Permalink | Comments

I'll be there. Will you?

Get your tickets fast before they're gone. Wear you favorite Spiderman t-shirt or a full costume if you're real cool (I might if I had one).

By the way, lots of Blockbusters are hitting theaters this summer. What do you think will break box office records this year? Spiderman III, Pirates III, or Transformers?

Labels: Cincinnati, movies

Posted by Andrew Warner at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments

Sacha Baron Cohen has signed on to play Borat in Borat 2.

Awesome.

The only worry I have is that he'll be recognized too often to have the same impact. We'll see.

Labels: media, movies

Posted by Andrew Warner at 8:08 PM | Permalink

Nominations for the Golden Globes were announced today and, just as predicted by yours truly, Leonardo DiCaprio received two nominations for best actor. It took a real movie guru to see that one coming (yes, I do realize I was talking about the Oscars when I made the prediction and that will still be the case).

Best picture should go to The Departed. The other award that captured my interest is the Golden Globe for best comedy. With nominations going to Sacha Baron Cohen for his controversial role as Borat, Aaron Eckhart for the smooth-talking tobacco peddler in Thank You For Smoking, as well as comedic genius Will Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction (where Ferrell shows the ability to pull off a more sophisticated comedic approach), the award is likely to go to someone pretty damn funny.

**Update** Apparently the Oscars don't allow a person to be nominated twice in the same category. Thus my prediction will not come true (though it should).

Labels: movies

Posted by Andrew Warner at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Every year or so a movie comes out that makes you ashamed to be a human being. When conflicts we read about in 200 word newspaper blurbs are projected onto the silver screen in a personalized, two-hour form, works of fiction help us to truly comprehend the darkest corners of reality.

Hotel Rwanda was one such film. Blood Diamond is another.

The late showing on a Monday night was pretty empty, but with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead, the film is bound to get some attention – bad news for the dirty diamond industry.

For those who don't know, the film focuses on both a smuggler (Leonardo DiCaprio) and a peaceful fisherman (Djimon Hounson) driven to desperation by the capture of his family by rebel forces in Sierra Leone. DiCaprio makes Hounson his partner after realizing he has stashed the holy grail of diamonds somewhere deep in hostile territory. Both their fates depend on the monstrous stone.

The plot serves only as a vehicle to drive home the pointed social commentary. At every turn the writer and director force us to deal with the interconnected nature of the world to the point you're disgusted with yourself for not doing a tour of duty in the Peace Corps. When Leonardo DiCaprio's character is confronted by a socially conscious journalist who lectures him about the nature of his business, he points out to her, an American, that "we are in business together," – referring to the diamond industry that is dependent on young American girls' dreams to slip the biggest rock possible on their little fingers.

The diamond industry's trespasses, perhaps only known to politicos and current events junkies, have found another way to slip into the mind of mainstream America.

DiCaprio, along with his co-star, is being considered for an Oscar. Ironically his leading competition will be himself for his role in The Departed. Somewhere between teenage hearthrob and turning 30, he became the best actor in the business.

If Kanye West's "Diamonds are forever" didn't convince you to leave diamonds alone, this movie should.

Labels: international politics, movies, personal choice, Social Justice

Posted by Andrew Warner at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments