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.

VIDEO:Jason Biggs Unreleased 'Magic Mike' Audition Tape

MOVIE REVIEW: Ted

Ted is one over the top comedy that pushes boundaries on its jokes, not surprising since the creator is Seth MacFarlene of TV's Family Guy, aided without the boundaries of television, the movie actually works and despite it's crassness and vulgarity, Ted is a slight variation of the typical Hollywood buddy comedy that we see but with a touch of sentimentality and a big heart.

John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) got to have Ted (voiced by MacFarlene), a talking teddy bear, as his best friend, as a result of his childhood wish. They grew up together, smoke pot and drink beer together but then John falls in love with Lori Collins (Mila Kunis) and thus the conflict begin. Will John ever be stuck with his best friend for life despite having a relationship with a woman she loves or can he handle them both?

From The Fighter to now Ted, Boston native Wahlberg is at his best when he's playing local. Kunis is ever reliable in comedies, as evidenced in That 70's Show and last year's Friends with Benefits opposite Justin Timberlake. Be also prepared for an unexpected cameo from one of Hollywood A list actors in a role that will take you off guard.

The movie shows us that at a point in life, we do have to grow up and make choices that make us responsible for ourselves. Beneath the crude humor, Ted teaches us life lessons that is entertaining yet enlightening. This for me is one feel-good movie

MOVIE REVIEW: Magic Mike

They say luck comes in threes and after scoring two $100 million grossing hits this year at the US Box Office with The Vow and 21 Jump Street, Channing Tatum might as well have his third with Magic Mike, arguably one of 2012 most awaited films, which doesn't disappoint!!
Based on his life as a male stripper in Florida before he became an actor, Magic Mike is ably directed by the Oscar winning director Steven Soderbergh.
The premise is simple, a veteran in the field of male strip dancing Mike (Tatum), brings a 19 year old newbie Adam played by Alex Pettyfer, whom he met at one of his day jobs, under his wings and introduces him the tricks and the trade of the business, in the club managed by Dallas, played by Matthew McConaughey. There, along with Adam, we meet the other cast of characters who comprises the club, that Tampa ladies go to.
Male bonding to the point of bromance is Soderbergh's signature style as seen in the Ocean series in which he also directed. The characters are well believable to the point that you laugh along with them but not exactly wanting to be like them. Tatum gives a commendable performance but it is McConaughey, who gives away the film's best lines, is one actor that Oscar should not forget come awards season time as one probable nominee for Supporting Actor.
The genre that the Oscar winning film The Full Monty has monopolized for years finally has company with Magic Mike.

MOVIE REVIEW: That's My Boy

For my generation who grew up watching Adam Sandler films such as Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison while struggling to finish our collegiate years, That's My Boy feels like the child of the two above mentioned movies, who like us grew up but still retained the naughty child in us.
Sandler plays Donny Berger, who impregnated his teacher Miss McGarricle (Eva Amurri Martino) while on his early teens in school, thus having a son Han Solo (Andy Samberg) who does not want to do anything with him for he's a loud mouthed alcoholic who basically did not grow up as a person. He moved out of his Dad when he was 18, even changed his changed his given name to Todd and had a career as a hedge fund manager.
When Donny found out that his son is getting married, he shows up uninvited to the pre-wedding happenings and that's when all the craziness begins.
This is classic Adam Sandler, this time you would actually be rooting for him. I never thought that Samberg, best known for his SNL's skits such as the Emmy winning Dick in a Box with Justin Timberlake, would effectively play the part of the serious son. Both of them have similar features and the casting of them as father and son was perfect in my opinion.
I had never laughed so far in any recent Adam Sandler movies than this. After the crap that was Jack and Jill, I hope that audiences who like me, loved the laughs that Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison provided, to give That's My Boy a peek.

MOVIE REVIEW: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

How do you top an animated franchise about a group of animals who escaped from the Central Park Zoo in New York to return to their roots in Africa only to experience more adventures? Simple, bring them to another continent, join other animals in the circus and enhance it through 3D!!
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted is one fast-paced animated film with characters that moviegoers of all ages that saw the first two films adore; from Ben Stiller's Alex the Lion, Chris Rock's Marty the Zebra, Jada Pinkett Smith's Gloria the Hippo, David Schwimmer's Melman the giraffe and Sacha Baron Cohen's King Julien following the ever cute Penguins as they attempt to get some loot from a Monte Carlo casino and joining a travelling circus across the continent to escape the wrath of Animal Protection head Capitaine Chantel DuBois, voiced by Frances Mc Dormand, the main protagonist. Inspired by Cruella DeVil mixed with a bloodhound's mannerisms, she is one of the best animated villains that came out in recent memory.
New characters are introduced using the circus as the backdrop and it's perfect!! I saw the film in 3D and it truly utilized the technology especially in the circus scenes.
There has been a void in animated  films the last couple of months with Dr.Seuss' The Lorax being only the certified box office hit and The Pirates: Band of Misfits hardly making noise despite being critically acclaimed. Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted will likely bridge the gap.

MOVIE REVIEW: Men in Black III

The first Men in Black, released in summer 1997, was an unexpected blockbuster hit, both from the moviegoing public and the critics, earning more than the sequel to Jurassic Park's The Lost World, which was expected to top it all. It even won Best Makeup at that's year Oscars, beating even the film which swept most of the awards than night, Titanic.
Five years later, a sequel was made and was an unispired one, earning less than the first film.
This year, the third Men in Black was dubbed the film that nobody asked for, but you guys are gonna be in for a pleasant surprise.This is how a summer blockbuster sequel is supposed to be.
The movie starts off as convicted alien Boris the Animal, played by Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords, escapes from Lunar Prison to find the agent that put him there and that made him lose one of his arms as well. It turned out to be Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) who suddenly disappears. When Agent J (Will Smith) finds out, he has to travel back in time in order to save K and not alter the course of history.
The element of time travel brings a fresh approach to a film whose last installment was ten years ago. Aside from the two leads, Men in Black III has some outstanding supporting actors with Clement, Oscar Winner Emma Thompson and Josh Brolin, who plays the younger Agent K. His mannerisms and way of talking are eerily like Tommy Lee's.
You don't have to watch this movie in 3D to enjoy. A regular screen would be fine to enjoy it like it was in 97, when the first one came out.