TEASER POSTER: The Hangover 3

MOVIE REVIEW: The Watch

What if suburban American was suddenly and quietly being invaded by aliens, whatcha' gonna do?? That is the premise of The Watch which is a hybrid of the Men in Black trilogy, Ghostbusters and almost every recent Vince Vaughn movie released.

American comic superstars Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and British Richard Ayoade play the different variant of the suburban male, who when a mysterious death happened, of all places Costco, where Stiller's character is the manager gave them a chance to escape from their humdrum lives to form the neighborhood watch and to help catch the killer. What they did not know is that it's not from the planet.

I had a good laugh with Ben Stiller's character Evan because I know of some people that eerily resembles him: uptight, on the go but neglectful of what matters most: family!! This is one of Vince Vaughn's funniest films but the role of Bob is just a rehash of his character in Couples Retreat: a dad who just loves to cuss. The only Oscar nominee among the cast, Jonah Hill, plays it safe and predictable in a role that's found in most gross out comedy that we saw the past couple of years.21 Jump Street is still his best film for 2012. Richard Ayoade is a surprising find and he plays his role of Jamarcus with perfect comic timing. He deserves a better comedy film than this.

The Watch is funnier than what the trailer suggests but that's not much of a compliment. Too much vulgarity and crudeness prevents it from being a family film but if you want a quick laugh and some extra time to kill then this film is for you.

MOVIE REVIEW: Step Up Revolution

The fourth installment of the popular movie franchise takes us to South Beach Miami, Florida where a dance crew named The Mob conducts flash mobs around the city to win in a viral video competition. It's leader Sean (Ryan Guzman), who also works as a waiter at a posh restaurant of a hotel, falls in love in Emily (Kathryn McCormick), an aspiring dance and also the daughter of the owner (Peter Gallagher) of the complex whose ambitious real estate development threatens the neighborhood where Sean and the rest of the dance crew lives.
After Step Up 3D two years ago, this film also maximized the use of 3D technology in the film and it works well in the dance scenes. However, the story leaves more questions and even simple minds can figure that out. Most of the actors in the film are dancers in real life and their acting abilities are commendable. Bottom line though, this is just a 97 minute long music video that is better seen on MTV and/or VH-1.
If you have some time to spare, Step Up Revolution is harmless fun but it's not worth to pay the extra 3D unless you are truly a fan of the series.

A CLASS ACT: Christian Bale visits the victims of the Century 16 Aurora Theater shooting.

The Dark Knight Rises lead actor Christian Bale visited the victims of the Century 16 Theater shooting at the Swedish Hospital in Aurora, Colorado in his own capacity. No accompanying press or TV cameras. Pictures of him were uploaded by people in the hospital through social media. A class act!!

MOVIE REVIEW: The Dark Knight Rises

Eight years after the events that transpired in The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises begins with Gotham City's crime rate at it's all time low thanks to the able perseverance of Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) , the city's District Attorney whose murder was blamed on Batman (Christian Bale). His alter-ego Bruce Wayne now lives a reclusive life and is jolted when a new villain Bane (Tom Hardy), with a past that's connected to him comes to wreck havoc on Gotham. Like what the title implies, the Dark Knight comes back or rises from whatever things that has been keeping to himself.
I saw the film in IMAX and it compliments the movie really well. The beauty of using it's different kind of camera was well executed in some scenes that maximized the big screen there is out now. I for one applaud Christopher Nolan's choice of not converting the movie into 3D for it lessens to impact of the lessons that the movie wants to impart that is in parallel to what's happening in the US right now. I don't want to spoil the movie but to give you guys a clue, it involves the "1%" living in the country right now.
Nothing can beat Heath Ledger's Oscar winning performance in the previous movie but the rest of the cast deliver outstanding performances as well. All that is required of Bane was executed with brute force by Tom Hardy and the trio of Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman is consistent with their acting since Batman Begins (2005) of Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox and Commissioner James Gordon respectively.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings a different variation in his character in Inception, another Nolan movie and that is a compliment. Anne Hathaway does a respectable job of portraying the cunning Selina Kyle or Catwoman but it is Miranda  Tate (Marion Cotillard) who brings more fierceness in the film, in a role that will surprise you.
This is the best film that I'd seen in the IMAX format and you won't regret spending your hard-earned cash in watching it. What a great conclusion to this trilogy that Christopher Nolan created.

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