After watching it, I believe that Despicable Me was created solely for that “Family Weekend” activity that kids and parents will love.

If you ask me, the film borrows a lot from the concept of Pixar’s The Incredibles, but in this case, the film pokes fun at super-villainy. Depite the lack of originality, there are many things to like about the film: the 3D animation, the transformation of the villainous Gru (Steve Carell) into a paternal figure thanks to three adorable girls, the rivalry between Gru and the upstart Vector (Jason Segel), and the multitude of Gru’s yellow minions.

One thing that annoyed me though was Gru’s accent. It sounds like Russian and it sounded garbled to me in a lot of times. Another beef is the availability of the film exclusively on 3D, so that meant paying double to what I usually pay for in a movie. The only time the 3D format was given justice was during the end credits (be sure to stay after the movie has ended).

Despicable Me is fun movie that the family will love and enjoy. A definite must-see.

Rating: 4/5

Technorati: Despicable Me

After watching it, I believe that Despicable Me was created solely for that “Family Weekend” activity that kids and parents will love.

If you ask me, the film borrows a lot from the concept of Pixar’s The Incredibles, but in this case, the film pokes fun at super-villainy. Depite the lack of originality, there are many things to like about the film: the 3D animation, the transformation of the villainous Gru (Steve Carell) into a paternal figure thanks to three adorable girls, the rivalry between Gru and the upstart Vector (Jason Segel), and the multitude of Gru’s yellow minions.

One thing that annoyed me though was Gru’s accent. It sounds like Russian and it sounded garbled to me in a lot of times. Another beef is the availability of the film exclusively on 3D, so that meant paying double to what I usually pay for in a movie. The only time the 3D format was given justice was during the end credits (be sure to stay after the movie has ended).

Despicable Me is fun movie that the family will love and enjoy. A definite must-see.

Rating: 4/5

Technorati: Despicable Me

After watching it, I believe that Despicable Me was created solely for that “Family Weekend” activity that kids and parents will love.

If you ask me, the film borrows a lot from the concept of Pixar’s The Incredibles, but in this case, the film pokes fun at super-villainy. Depite the lack of originality, there are many things to like about the film: the 3D animation, the transformation of the villainous Gru (Steve Carell) into a paternal figure thanks to three adorable girls, the rivalry between Gru and the upstart Vector (Jason Segel), and the multitude of Gru’s yellow minions.

One thing that annoyed me though was Gru’s accent. It sounds like Russian and it sounded garbled to me in a lot of times. Another beef is the availability of the film exclusively on 3D, so that meant paying double to what I usually pay for in a movie. The only time the 3D format was given justice was during the end credits (be sure to stay after the movie has ended).

Despicable Me is fun movie that the family will love and enjoy. A definite must-see.

Rating: 4/5

Technorati: Despicable Me

Juliette (Clarkson) travels to Cairo to meet her husband who works for the UN as a refugee camp organizer in Gaza. He is (not surprisingly) detained, so he sends a friend to entertain her in his absence.

Tareq (Siddig) is a handsome, never-married Egyptian who runs a café, yet appears wherever Juliette needs him, whenever she needs him.

With additional husband delays, the waiting gets to be too much and restless Juliette begins to explore the city on her own. She finds this to be unsafe and solicits the company of Tareq as her informal tour guide. They cruise along the Nile, taste the “best coffee in the world” and get to know one another in a sweet, innocent way. She teases him about the girl who got away; he flatters her with jokes about her foreign pronunciation. They fall in love.

As we witness their chemistry develop, the director puts us in the places they are visiting in an almost visceral way. When the noise of Cairo is too intrusive for Juliette speak with her husband on the phone or to sleep, we’re annoyed right along with her; when she takes constant sips of her bottled water on a dusty bus to the desert, we become thirsty with dryness.

The two main actors are perfect in their roles and the few supporting characters who show up are like seasoning on a pleasantly spicy dish.

The pace of the film is unimaginably slow, yet never dull. Watching a friendship grow into something unexpected is both exciting and frightening. Contemplating what one would do in a similar situation and wondering which man deserves Juliette’s love keeps our minds going as the landscape quietly draws us into its mystery.

Also to be appreciated is the way the pyramids are savored in minimal, powerful scenes. There are no obligatory helicopter perspectives of the landmarks, nor do they steal the show (though they are breathtaking as seen from the characters’ perspectives).

I’d recommend seeing Cairo Time on your own time, when you have the luxury of lingering right along with it.

~~~

It will be the topic of Cinebanter #97, so tune in on September 13 for our review.

Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is a feature to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. They may not be old, maybe not forgotten, but they are not new. Just fun to share.

Today, we review Hudson Hawk

Genre: Comedy Action
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Staring: Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, Richard E. Grant, Sandra Bernhard
Released: May 21, 1991

THE GENERAL IDEA

Eddie Hawkins, called Hudson Hawk has just been released from ten years of prison and is planning to spend the rest of his life honestly. But then the crazy Mayflower couple blackmail him to steal some of the works of Leonardo da Vinci. If he refuses, they threaten to kill his friend Tommy.

THE GOOD

Right after Look who’s Talking and Die Hard took Bruce Willis from the small screen (Moonlighting) up to the bigs, he did this comedy action flick. This is classic Willis charm and humour just littered with one liners and snappy banter.

Its also one of the most rediculous things you will ever see, and is often considered proof that Willis is bullet proof. This falls in that “So bad its good” category I do so love to share.

This was also the movie that had me crushing on Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day made it an obsession – but I got over it) and seeing her go from seductress to nun in this is mind boggling. It also makes it that much naughtier.

Sandra Bernhard and Richard E Grant are the Mayflowers, a bored but insanely wealthy pair of meglomaniacs and they are deliciously absurd. Lots of fun.

THE BAD

If Sandra Bernhard is like nails on a blackboard to you, you might not want to see this. I don’t know if there is a film where she is more over the top obnoxious – even by her standards.

OVERALL

Really campy, lots of fun, and silly almost to a flaw. Almost.

It really ranks as a gem that gets nothing more than an awkward smile and a head shake from Willis now, but still a laugh to see.

Since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I had a Tv, Rent or Buy scale going on, but it would seem that an overwhelming majority of my picks get a BUY rating.
So with every Forgotten Friday you see from now on, you get to rate your anticipation for yourself!

TV – If you are at least a little curious, catch it if it comes on TV.
Rent – If it is something you have heard of and forgotten, or just remember enjoying this as much as I did once upon a time, go rent it.
Buy – But if you are like me, and you agree with my review you should go buy it. If its featured here, I already have.

Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is a feature to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. They may not be old, maybe not forgotten, but they are not new. Just fun to share.

Today, we review Hudson Hawk

Genre: Comedy Action
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Staring: Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, Richard E. Grant, Sandra Bernhard
Released: May 21, 1991

THE GENERAL IDEA

Eddie Hawkins, called Hudson Hawk has just been released from ten years of prison and is planning to spend the rest of his life honestly. But then the crazy Mayflower couple blackmail him to steal some of the works of Leonardo da Vinci. If he refuses, they threaten to kill his friend Tommy.

THE GOOD

Right after Look who’s Talking and Die Hard took Bruce Willis from the small screen (Moonlighting) up to the bigs, he did this comedy action flick. This is classic Willis charm and humour just littered with one liners and snappy banter.

Its also one of the most rediculous things you will ever see, and is often considered proof that Willis is bullet proof. This falls in that “So bad its good” category I do so love to share.

This was also the movie that had me crushing on Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day made it an obsession – but I got over it) and seeing her go from seductress to nun in this is mind boggling. It also makes it that much naughtier.

Sandra Bernhard and Richard E Grant are the Mayflowers, a bored but insanely wealthy pair of meglomaniacs and they are deliciously absurd. Lots of fun.

THE BAD

If Sandra Bernhard is like nails on a blackboard to you, you might not want to see this. I don’t know if there is a film where she is more over the top obnoxious – even by her standards.

OVERALL

Really campy, lots of fun, and silly almost to a flaw. Almost.

It really ranks as a gem that gets nothing more than an awkward smile and a head shake from Willis now, but still a laugh to see.

Since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I had a Tv, Rent or Buy scale going on, but it would seem that an overwhelming majority of my picks get a BUY rating.
So with every Forgotten Friday you see from now on, you get to rate your anticipation for yourself!

TV – If you are at least a little curious, catch it if it comes on TV.
Rent – If it is something you have heard of and forgotten, or just remember enjoying this as much as I did once upon a time, go rent it.
Buy – But if you are like me, and you agree with my review you should go buy it. If its featured here, I already have.

Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is a feature to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share. They may not be old, maybe not forgotten, but they are not new. Just fun to share.

Today, we review Hudson Hawk

Genre: Comedy Action
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Staring: Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, Richard E. Grant, Sandra Bernhard
Released: May 21, 1991

THE GENERAL IDEA

Eddie Hawkins, called Hudson Hawk has just been released from ten years of prison and is planning to spend the rest of his life honestly. But then the crazy Mayflower couple blackmail him to steal some of the works of Leonardo da Vinci. If he refuses, they threaten to kill his friend Tommy.

THE GOOD

Right after Look who’s Talking and Die Hard took Bruce Willis from the small screen (Moonlighting) up to the bigs, he did this comedy action flick. This is classic Willis charm and humour just littered with one liners and snappy banter.

Its also one of the most rediculous things you will ever see, and is often considered proof that Willis is bullet proof. This falls in that “So bad its good” category I do so love to share.

This was also the movie that had me crushing on Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day made it an obsession – but I got over it) and seeing her go from seductress to nun in this is mind boggling. It also makes it that much naughtier.

Sandra Bernhard and Richard E Grant are the Mayflowers, a bored but insanely wealthy pair of meglomaniacs and they are deliciously absurd. Lots of fun.

THE BAD

If Sandra Bernhard is like nails on a blackboard to you, you might not want to see this. I don’t know if there is a film where she is more over the top obnoxious – even by her standards.

OVERALL

Really campy, lots of fun, and silly almost to a flaw. Almost.

It really ranks as a gem that gets nothing more than an awkward smile and a head shake from Willis now, but still a laugh to see.

Since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I had a Tv, Rent or Buy scale going on, but it would seem that an overwhelming majority of my picks get a BUY rating.
So with every Forgotten Friday you see from now on, you get to rate your anticipation for yourself!

TV – If you are at least a little curious, catch it if it comes on TV.
Rent – If it is something you have heard of and forgotten, or just remember enjoying this as much as I did once upon a time, go rent it.
Buy – But if you are like me, and you agree with my review you should go buy it. If its featured here, I already have.

Almost a month ago, we posted a trailer for Tucker and Dale vs Evil, and while late to the game finding this trailer I couldn’t resist sharing it because it looks like an amazingly funny film. This is how I summed it up.

Everyone is tired of the same old “drunk hot college kids go camping and get slashed up by derranged rednecks” but what happens when those rednecks are not hankering for your brains and it just looks like they are?

Yup. Kids get themselves killed.

Sadly after making the film festival circuits, it sat in limbo, but all hope is not lost!

Way up here in the Great White North the film has been picked up for Canadian Distribution by Maple Pictures and should see a theatrical release around Spring 2011 … IN CANADA. Spring is a thing to celebrate up here, so this is just icing on the cake.

Yup, that’s right kiddies. Canada is getting it first. This doesn’t happen often so when it does, I am going to gloat a bit.

It will find its way to DVD in due time after that and Americans will flock our borders looking to get their hands on a copy to smuggle back to their homeland.

But fear not. If the film is half as well accepted here as the trailer has been, it is only a matter of time before some US distributor gets their mitts on it and shares it with the rest of you.

In the mean time I am going to go celebrate with some Poutine and look forward to seeing this some time next year.

Almost a month ago, we posted a trailer for Tucker and Dale vs Evil, and while late to the game finding this trailer I couldn’t resist sharing it because it looks like an amazingly funny film. This is how I summed it up.

Everyone is tired of the same old “drunk hot college kids go camping and get slashed up by derranged rednecks” but what happens when those rednecks are not hankering for your brains and it just looks like they are?

Yup. Kids get themselves killed.

Sadly after making the film festival circuits, it sat in limbo, but all hope is not lost!

Way up here in the Great White North the film has been picked up for Canadian Distribution by Maple Pictures and should see a theatrical release around Spring 2011 … IN CANADA. Spring is a thing to celebrate up here, so this is just icing on the cake.

Yup, that’s right kiddies. Canada is getting it first. This doesn’t happen often so when it does, I am going to gloat a bit.

It will find its way to DVD in due time after that and Americans will flock our borders looking to get their hands on a copy to smuggle back to their homeland.

But fear not. If the film is half as well accepted here as the trailer has been, it is only a matter of time before some US distributor gets their mitts on it and shares it with the rest of you.

In the mean time I am going to go celebrate with some Poutine and look forward to seeing this some time next year.

Almost a month ago, we posted a trailer for Tucker and Dale vs Evil, and while late to the game finding this trailer I couldn’t resist sharing it because it looks like an amazingly funny film. This is how I summed it up.

Everyone is tired of the same old “drunk hot college kids go camping and get slashed up by derranged rednecks” but what happens when those rednecks are not hankering for your brains and it just looks like they are?

Yup. Kids get themselves killed.

Sadly after making the film festival circuits, it sat in limbo, but all hope is not lost!

Way up here in the Great White North the film has been picked up for Canadian Distribution by Maple Pictures and should see a theatrical release around Spring 2011 … IN CANADA. Spring is a thing to celebrate up here, so this is just icing on the cake.

Yup, that’s right kiddies. Canada is getting it first. This doesn’t happen often so when it does, I am going to gloat a bit.

It will find its way to DVD in due time after that and Americans will flock our borders looking to get their hands on a copy to smuggle back to their homeland.

But fear not. If the film is half as well accepted here as the trailer has been, it is only a matter of time before some US distributor gets their mitts on it and shares it with the rest of you.

In the mean time I am going to go celebrate with some Poutine and look forward to seeing this some time next year.

Almost a month ago, we posted a trailer for Tucker and Dale vs Evil, and while late to the game finding this trailer I couldn’t resist sharing it because it looks like an amazingly funny film. This is how I summed it up.

Everyone is tired of the same old “drunk hot college kids go camping and get slashed up by derranged rednecks” but what happens when those rednecks are not hankering for your brains and it just looks like they are?

Yup. Kids get themselves killed.

Sadly after making the film festival circuits, it sat in limbo, but all hope is not lost!

Way up here in the Great White North the film has been picked up for Canadian Distribution by Maple Pictures and should see a theatrical release around Spring 2011 … IN CANADA. Spring is a thing to celebrate up here, so this is just icing on the cake.

Yup, that’s right kiddies. Canada is getting it first. This doesn’t happen often so when it does, I am going to gloat a bit.

It will find its way to DVD in due time after that and Americans will flock our borders looking to get their hands on a copy to smuggle back to their homeland.

But fear not. If the film is half as well accepted here as the trailer has been, it is only a matter of time before some US distributor gets their mitts on it and shares it with the rest of you.

In the mean time I am going to go celebrate with some Poutine and look forward to seeing this some time next year.