I must admit that I was surprised when I heard that a sequel was in the works. First of all the first one wasn’t really good enough to warrant one, nor did I think the box office returns were hight enough to coax studio executives into loosening up the purse strings. But for whatever reason the whole gang is back for National Treasure: Book of Secrets (not to be confused with Blair Witch 2’s Book of Shadows).

THE GENERAL IDEA

Nicolas Cage’s character is now quite famous for his discovery in National Treasure. On giving a lecture about the heroic efforts of his great great grandfather to prevent the South from winning the civil war, a new piece of evidence is brought to light by Ed Harris which implicates Cage’s great great grandfather as one of the conspirators in the assassination of President Lincon. This event begins the adventure for Cage and his father (again played by Jon Voight) to clear their family name. This adventure will take them to England, France and around the US discovering the secrets to the lost City of Gold that will ultimately vindicate their ancestor’s name.

THE GOOD

The movie is fun. The key to any sort of adventure film is to make the audience feel engaged in the character’s adventure on screen. I found National Treasure 2 did that. There is a good mix throughout the film of not only intellectual puzzle solving, but also of Indiana Jones type danger and action (not to mention a pretty good little car chase in it as well). Yes, some of these elements were a little too easy and a touch far fetched, but still… it’s the movies. The film did a fine job of making you feel like you were along for the ride, and on that level it really worked.

The characters are ultimately likable. Quirks and all, you LIKE Nicolas Cage’s character. You LIKE Voight. You even end up liking the sidekick quite a bit, and in a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a little tongue in cheek, that’s REALLY important. It’s a silly little movie, and thus you need to like and feel invested a little in the people who are taking you for the ride. I especially liked Cage’s sidekick (played by Justin Bartha) who did play the stereotypical adventurers sidekick (doing the menial tasks, being a little bumbling, able to hack all the computers), but was also a little more substantial than that as well. He was a more well rounded character than the usual sidekick roles which was nice.

Solid supporting cast in the movie. Helen Mirren, Jon Voight, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel and one of my absolute favorite character actors Bruce Greenwood fill out their roles very nicely. No Oscar nominations forthcoming… but you certainly feel like you’re getting your $10 worth when that sort of a cast is put together.

THE BAD

As much as the adventure in the film was well played out on the screen, some of the HUGE leaps in reasoning were a little hard to swallow and thus speed bumped the movie for me. There are several parts in the movie where a cryptic clue is revealed, and Nicolas Cage just makes the most wild, out of no where connections that ultimately are always correct and lead him exactly to where he needs to be next. These types of films (like “who done its”) are always more satisfying when the audience member has the potential of figuring out the mystery along the way (not that they have to figure it out… but when the mystery is revealed they could slap their heads because they COULD have figured it out), the answers Cage comes up with are so out of left field that it makes the audience feel like a sideline spectator, instead of being on the adventure as well. This was a problem throughout the whole movie.

I’ve already mentioned the supporting cast and how seeing them all up there alone makes you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth… HOWEVER… if you’re going to amass that calibre of talent… GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DO! You’ve got these Oscar winners walking around on screen playing characters that do next to nothing in the film, and what little there was to do for them, it was so shallow that they didn’t even really need to act the scenes out. Especially wasted were Helen Mirren and Keitel. I’m not saying change the story to give them more meat per se… but why put Keitel in there in the first place if some newbie actor could have played the same role just as well?

I like Diane Kruger… but she was just painful to watch in this film. I have no idea why she came off the way she did in it… but every line she had to deliver, and every facial expression she had to make made me feel like I was watching some half assed high school play that wasn’t rehearsed very well. I realize that sounds harsh, but it’s the truth. It was like I was watching the dreadful Thawndie Newton. I’ve seen her do better, and I trust we won’t see her this bad again… but she did drop the ball in this one.

OVERALL
Wasted major league talent and unrealistic puzzle solving aside, National Treasure: Book of Secrets does what it seems to set out to be, a light, easy, fun little adventure movie with some laughs along the way. The characters are likable, the adventure wasn’t too grand scale, and the ending satisfying. Certainly not a cinematic classic, and certainly no Indiana Jones, but in the end a more than serviceable Saturday afternoon movie.

Overall I give National Treasure 2 a 7 out of 10.

For Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton once again brings Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter to his aid to tell the story of the demon barber of Fleet street. Just from the trailers you could tell that the visual style of the film would be fun to watch, but would the story be enough to carry it through… and would it work as a musical? These are the questions I had going in to Sweeney Todd.

THE GENERAL IDEA

Johnny Depp plays a young and talented barber in London. He has a wonderful life with a beautiful wife that he loves with his whole heart, and a baby daughter. Life is wonderful until one day the local corrupt Judge (Played by Alan Rickman) notices Depp’s wife and decides he wants her for his own. The Judge has Depp arrested on false charges and sent away to prison so he can move in and take his wife. 15 years have passed and Depp now returns to London a very different man. He changes his name to Sweeney Todd and all his hope, innocence and optimism are now replaced by anger, bitterness and thoughts of harsh revenge. To unleash his vengeance on the people of London, he takes up his old profession… but this time decides to give shaves a lot closer.

THE GOOD

As I suspected from the trailers, the visual style of Sweeney Todd is quite gorgeous. Burton captures the essence of the time period in London and does a slick job of taking you there to the dirty streets. Typical of Burton films, the screen is dark much of the time… only this time it was quite appropriate and used well. The set design and special visual effects were used together in such a way that environments were always great to look at… but never took away from what was happening on screen.

Johnny Depp. What can you really say about him? Even if you don’t like Depp (which I do) you’ve got to admit he can do the dark brooding thing really well. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite parts of the film was a semi-dream montage of supposedly HAPPY situations where everyone around is clearly joyful, but Sweeney consistently looks miserable… trust me it really worked. Depp was solid as expected and sets the tone for the whole film as a man robbed of his innocence, his wife, his child and clearly his sanity, fueled now by pure rage and anger. Very well done.

I’ve said it many times, but for films like this one, you have to have a solid villain figure for it to rise above mediocre… and who on earth will ever be as good at delivering that than Alan Rickman? As the corrupt Judge in London and the object of Sweeney Todd’s wrath, Rickman puts all of the evil and charm, sophistication and savagery. He is the worst and most dangerous kind of hypocrite…. the one that doesn’t even realize he is a hypocrite. You LOATHE Rickman for his villainy… but hate him even more when he’s eloquent . It was a huge challenge to have a character be the BAD GUY when Sweeney Todd is standing across from him and make Todd look more sympathetic… but Rickamn does it.

Two BRILLIANT small supporting roles in the film really stood out. Sacha Baron Cohen as a barbering competitor for Sweeney Todd was very funny, and you could literally feel the theater light up when he came on screen. BUT… even better was Timothy Spall who plays Rickman’s evil henchman. I swear Spall would have stolen the whole movie if he had much more screen time. Every moment he’s on there his presence captures you… so greasy, so foul and yet so funny. I loved him.

The story of the film was the strong point. A wronged man, returning to the city of his betrayal years later under a new identity seeking revenge on those who perpetrated the egregious offense on him. Watching his plan for revenge unfold and seeing those who get caught up in his destructive path all tied up with a satisfying ending.

THE BAD

Yes, I get it, I know Helena Bonham Carter looks goth, but so what? Some critic circles are giving carter mention for potential best supporting actress… but I simple didn’t see it. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t thing Helena Bonham Carter was horrible in Sweeney Todd, but she was clearly a weak point who never would have been considered for this role had her husband not been the director (which is something mentioned a lot about her regarding more than half the movies she’s appeared in). Whenever she had dialog, or a song to sing, it felt like the movie just stopped. I don’t dislike Carter, but she wasn’t right for this part… but my opinion on this issue is in the minority.

The Music was bland, and for a musical that’s a big weakness. When we came out of Lion King, we were all humming hakuna matata or Circel of Life. When we came out of Moulin Rouge we were humming “This is your song” or “Come what may”… however the music in Sweeney Todd is utterly forgettable, and other than a few lines that are in the trailer, I’ve already forgotten all of it. Some may disagree, but this movie would have been 3x better had it not been a musical. Yes yes yes… I know the music is a part of it… but when adapting it to the screen I truly feel that Sweeny Todd would have been better off without being a musical. The story was strong, the performances were wonderful and honestly the musical numbers just got in the way… which wouldn’t have been the case if the music wasn’t so forgettable. To me, this was the one major flaw of Sweeney Todd.

OVERALL

Despite the fact that Sweeney Todd would have been better without being a musical, the story, performances, art… and yes I’ll say it… the DIRECTION (and I’m no Tim Burton Fan) were all strong enough to still make Sweeney Todd an enjoyably gruesome (it’s very gory) film with soul. I had a good time watching this film, and I think most of you will too. Not as good as I was hoping it would be, but certainly worth of your ticket money.

Overall I give Sweeney Todd a 7.5 out of 10

I’m going to keep this short and sweet, because I want to limit the amount of time I’ve already wasted on this train wreck of a trash movie. Alvin and the Chipmunks SUCKS. It’s awful. It’s painful. I regret having already made my “10 Worst Films of 2007″ list, because I’m pretty sure it would have made it on there.

And to those who will undoubtedly say to me “BUT JOHN, YOU DON’T GET IT, IT’S A KIDS MOVIE”, I say… so what??? A bad movie is a bad movie. Let’s call a spade a spade here. For young children, you could put 5 fat guys in purple marshmallow costume making fart noises for 90 minutes and kids would love it. Kids aren’t hard to please. But but guess what, The Incredibles was a kids movie too… and it was GREAT.

Toy Story was a kids movie, and it was GREAT. Shrek was a kids movie, and it was GREAT. Finding Nemo was a kids movie, and it was GREAT. YOU CAN MAKE A KIDS MOVIE THAT’S ACTUALLY GOOD. What Alvin and the Chipmunks did on the screen has no excuse at all.

I will give the devil his due however. The Chipmunks themselves are very cute. But that’s not enough. Good lord even Jason Lee sucked eggs in this movie… he was horrible (and I love the guy).

Horrible movie.

I’m done writing about it. 1.5 out of 10

“Aww Hell Naww” are probably the words that will be inscribed on Will Smith’s grave. It’s not only a popular line, but also one that a lot of people think identify and embody who he is an an actor. Look, as EVERYONE around here knows, I hate it when musicians just jump to acting and get handed lead roles… but as you hear about Smith’s life, during Fresh Prince of Bel-Air days and afterwards, he took his acting very seriously, took as much training wherever he could, and slowly started turning himself into a pretty fine actor.

So here comes I am Legend, an apparent hybrid between the book and Omega Man. A movie that has the appearance of a Summer Blockbuster more than a pre-christmas release, which may have been brilliant strategy on the studios part since a popcorn type film like this released when all the serious styled Oscar Contenders are coming out could be very lucrative. But happily there is also a little bit more to Legend than just popcorn… not much… but a little

THE GENERAL IDEA

In the very near future a doctor creates what appears to be a cancer vaccine. I genetically engineered virus that when injected into 10,000 cancer patients, cured every single one of them. The problem is, when you play God, you may find out you’re not as good at as you might think. The virus mutates into a plauge that pretty much wipes out the entire human race, killing the vast majority of the population almost instantly, while leaving some survivors…. but most of those survivors are turned into Vampire/Zombie/Rage Virus type beings who lose their humanity and kill every survivor left uneffected. Will Smith is the last human being in New York, and maybe the world, who is also a military geneticist (what great luck) who works tirelessly to not only survive in this new nightmare world, but also struggles to find a cure for the rest of those who are infected.

THE GOOD

Ok, didn’t think I’d end up saying this… but Will Smith is pretty damn good in this movie. When you think about it, it’s not easy to carry a movie when you’re the only character most of the time. You’re interacting with yourself and a dog…. and that’s it. In that way I am Legend had a sort of “Castaway” feel to it, and while Smith doesn’t quite pull off a Hanks lone performance, he does do it quite well. We see him trying his best to lead something that looks like a normal existence, slowly loosing his sanity a little (there’s a great little scene where he’s trying to think of a way to pick up a mannequin) and yet save the world all at the same time. Lesser actors couldn’t have pulled that off, and Smith did, so kudos to him.

Many people around the websphere are maligning the visual effects in the film… and I’d like to know what they’re comapring it to, because I’ll tell you right now, they did as good of a job as I’ve ever seen making human beings in full lead 3D animation interacting with a real environments. It’s easier to make giant robots, or alien creatures because our brains have no point of reference for such things to compare them too… but do a human… or an animal… and it’s a much difference story. The technology is still far from perfect, but the artists who did the VFX in this film did a fantastic job filling out a VERY TALL ORDER.

I love it when a movie can give you that “Oh crap… this guy is totally screwed” feeling, and I Am Legend did that on a couple of solid occasions. Not only screwed because of his general predicament (being the only human left alive with all those infected out there wanting to rip his delicious neck meat out) but also some pretty suspenseful action sequences that had you on the edge of your seat a little.

Oh, and this is a minor thing… but near the beginning of the movie as Will Smith is walking around the now empty downtown New York, there is a giant billboard in Time Square advertising a Batman VS. Superman movie. Made me smile friends… made me smile.

THE BAD

This one killed me. Will Smith is keeping careful detailed notes and memos as any good scientist would do. He even makes this video entry into this computer about how he noticed one of the infected guys stuck his head into the light for a second, which was unnatural behavior for them. However, in another scene, one of the infected (minor spoiler) sets an elaborate booby-trap for Smith to fall into. These are supposed to be mindless rage machines… and they this one shows complex reasoning and planning… and Smith never mentions it again in the movie… ever. I know that’s a minor point… but it really stuck out.

As good of a job that Smith did in keeping my attention even though it’s usually just him on the screen, the fact of the matter is I had a very hard time buying Will Smith as the world’s leading military geneticist who the US government (when it was still around) is relying on to save the world (he’s even on the cover of Time Magazine). And it’s not because I can’t by SMITH per se… but I couldn’t buy it when held up to all the other characteristics of the character he plays. Warrior, bodybuilder (crap… he’s in better shape in this movie than he was in Ali) and everything in between… made it a huge stretch to ALSO buy him a genius scientist.

Once the infected people are revealed, the film lost a bit of it’s soul. I was really enjoying the simple survival story of Smith, working to save the world, and yes, the THREAT of the infected… but once the infected come out full force, it felt like the movie dumbed down a little.

OVERALL

I didn’t have much hope for I Am Legend, but I’ve got to say I enjoyed it. Certainly not as good as it could have been, but a decent time at the movies nonetheless. Smith is solid, the premise is good than they move around in this eerily empty world very well. Not half bad action and suspence although it could have been a bit shorter since the film starts to slowly loose your attention after the first hour. Still… not a bad film.

Overall I give I Am Legend a 6.5 out of 10

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from the film. The main reason was because it appeared to revolve around child actors… and that happens I’m not usually impressed (there are exceptions obviously… but in general I don’t like it when child actors are put in a position where they’re supposed to lead a film). So off I went.

THE GENERAL IDEA

Amir grew up in Afghanistan during a much different time before the Russian invasion. His father was an affluent man with strong ideas and his very best friend, Hassan was the son of the house servant (who had been with the family as long as they can remember). Despite being servant and employer, the two boys share an incredible friendship and bond until a horrible incident pushes the two apart. Amir and his father are forced to flee to America when the Russians invade, and 20 many years later Amir receives a phone call letting him know that his old childhood friend Hassan needs his help… and Amir must return to Afghanistan.

THE GOOD

Remember in the introduction when I said I had mildly low expectations from the film because it was being lead by child actors? Yeah well… the two kids were awesome. There is something so enduringly pure about the innocence and bond between them that it was almost enough to choke me up a couple of times. It forced me to reflect a little when leaving the theater about why we adults (I use the term loosely in my case) don’t lavish in, celebrate or cherish our friendships like these two small boys living in and through difficult times? Sometimes when you look at children you see noisy bratty like mistakes…. but sometimes you look at them and you can see a better world. That’s when these kids in this movie did for me, and they portrayed it with a maturity well beyond their years.

The themes of guilt and shame are powerfully and yet subtlety draw on. I don’t want to give much away, but in the story a terrible betrayal happens between the boys… but only the guilty one knows about it… and that guilt that he lives with slowly make him start to push the other boy away, because the other boy becomes a living representation of his shame and is reminded of it now every time he sees him. It was so heart breakingly well played out that I almost wish the rest of the movie revolved around it and just dealt with that instead of the rest of the story.

Amir’s father is played by an actor named Homayoun Ershadi and I guaran-damn-tee you we will be seeing more of him in the future. He brought a wonderful sense of flawed power, imperfect strength and sometimes compromised ingegrity. A human man who believes strongly in right and wrong and does his best to instill that same sense in his young (and older) son.

THE BAD

Where the first 2 acts of the film played out beautifully, elegant and touching, the third act shifted gears and jars you. Suddenly the film feels more like “Mission Impossible” as the older Amir sneaks back into Afghanistan. The problem here is that while everything unfolded at a beautiful pace in the first two acts, the third feels rushed and spotty. The story also introduces major “coincidences” that were just a little to hard to swallow… and even then they should have been played out a little better. It was enough to take that sweet taste that the first part gave us… and soured it.

OVERALL

Had The Kite Runner been broken up into two separate films… the first film dealing with their childhood all the way up to Amir receiving that faithful phone call, and then the second film journeying with Amir as he goes back to Afghanistan, I think they both could have played out very well, but in cramming the two together, the brilliance if the first part is soured by the rush and disjointedness of the second. Still, the beautiful story of childhood friendship shines, and makes this film well worth watching… but don’t feel bad if you have to leave 20 minutes before the end of the film.

Overall I give The Kite Runner a 6.5 out of 10.