TRANSFORMERS:REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

Plot:

In this sequel to the 2007 box office hit 'Transformers', Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) along with his girlfriend Mikaela (Fox) is again requested by Optimus Prime to help the Autobots in their fight to protect Earth against the evil forces of the Decepticons. When Megatron (who was destroyed in the first movie) is resurrected by The Fallen, the oldest ruler of the Decpticons who has been around since man's early existence trying to gain control of a device that will use the Sun's energy to destroy the Earth only to have his plans foiled by the Autobots. The device has since been hidden and The Fallen needs Megatron to go after Sam who has been having strange visions which are signs that will them lead to the device.

Reel Talk:

In this follow up film, the entire primary cast members from the first movie, are in this one. This is not necessarily a bad thing but someone got the idea to increase the dialog of some characters that just really wasn't needed. Like in the case of Sam's witless mother and father, a lot of the scenes could have been left out. The re-cast of John Turturro (who I feel is a good actor) as the terminated Agent Simmons was just not a good look at all. If you get off on explosions, more robots that have scrap metal brawls, a lot of running and screaming then you may enjoy this movie. It just gets boring at some point and it doesn't help that they extended the time of this movie 30 more minutes. The first movie was a blockbuster, and this one will be a box office smash also, but just because of the hype that comes from the success of the original. I was curious to see how director Michael Bay would fair with this sequel and must admit that I was disappointed. I felt like the story was weak, the acting was crappy and that they stepped up on the offensive language that the children in the audience should not have been subjected to.

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Ramon Rodriquez, Kevin Dunn and Julie White
Directed by: Michael Bay
Rated: PG-13

I give it 2 and a half eaten corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

IMAGINE THAT

Plot:

Eddie Murphy plays Evan, a high powered financial advisor that is in competition with co worker Johnny Whitefeather (Church) for the job of their resigning boss. The week that they are to provide presentations that will decide whether he gets the job, he must look after his daughter Olivia (Shahidi) who has a strong attachment to a blanket that allows her to talk to imaginary friends (due to the lack of attention from her father). When sHe draws and paste glitter on his work that he must present to his boss because she says her pretend friends told her to, he goes berserk and is expecting to get fired until his boss tells him that his projections were right on point with what see place on his assignment. He then begins to spend time with Olivia and her imaginary friends who continue to help him make successful projections for his job until he becomes obobsessedith the blanket himself.

Reel Talk:

This is the second movie (first being Meet Dave) that my assumption of Eddie Murphy was like what are you doing because most of his kid movies bomb. But just like Meet Dave which did bomb, this was a decent family movie. While Murphy's performance was a combination of a bunch of character roles from some of his past movies, his co-star Yara Shahidi who plays Olivia was so charming that you just gotta love her. Thomas Haden Church as Whitefeather was hilarious and the scene where he is with his son is insanely funny.
Overall this is a good family movie and should have been promoted around Father's Day. But now Eddie please get back to making successful action movies.

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Yara Shahidi, Thomas Haden Church and Nicole Ari Parker
Directed by: Karey Kirk Patrick
Rated: PG

I give it 3 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123

Plot:

In this remake of the 1974 film The Taking Of Pelham 123 , Denzel Washington plays transit coordinator Walter Garber who is under investigation for bribery charges. While working as the chief dispatcher for the subways he receives a call from someone who calls himself Ryder (Travolta) who has taken hostages on the train Pelham 123. Demanding that the Mayor (Gandolfini) fork over 10 millions or he along with his three assistants will begin killing the hostages. Ryder, enjoying the conversations with Garber, eventually demands that Garber brings the money down to the subway to him as chief negotiator Camonetti (Turturro) try to figure a way to foil the gangs criminal intent.

Reel Talk:

Director Tony Scott who is no stranger to action thrillers and who has worked with Denzel on a few films, brought his masterful touch to this remake. The action is intense and with the combination of Washington and Travolta, this is a good movie. Travolta being the great actor he is, seems to really put in his best work a villain He has played several bad guy roles and he does not hold back in this portrayal as Ryder. Luis Guzman as henchman Phil Ramos is always a character that will provide a few laughs.This is a good action thriller with a great cast. I just caught the original version with Walter Matthau and it was also good but it will help you appreciate the more updated remake.

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzman, John Turturro and James Gandolfini
Directed by: Tony Scott
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

THE HANGOVER

Plot:

When Phil (Cooper) and Stu (Helms) arrange to take their buddy Doug (Bartha) to Vegas for his last few days as a single man and they invite Doug's soon to be weird brother in-law Alan (Galifianakis), little do they know that they are in for one wild adventure. They set out on the road trip in a classic customized Mercedes Benz loaned to them by Doug's future father in-law with instructions that Doug be the only driver. Upon their arrival to Vegas the guys toast and take a drug given to them by Alan that they believe is Ecstasy but is instead a memory loss drug. They wake up the next morning and their luxurious expensive suite is a wreck, hookers are leaving, there is a tiger in the bathroom and Doug is missing and they have no recollection of what took place. The trio set out to backtrack to try and figure out what happened and how to find their friend. But they run into the most craziest circumstances along the way from Chinese gangsters to Mike Tyson that impedes them from finding Doug, so that they can make the wedding on time.

Reel Talk:

The Hangover is the funniest movie so far this year. I thought it was going to be a cheesy corny comedy but I was truly surprised. It will have you laughing pretty much the entire movie. And Zach Galifianakis as Alan will have you rolling with laughter as he plays the idiot role to the max as well as Ken Jeong as Mr. Chow, they are the most hilarious characters in the film. And of course the cameo appearance of Mike Tyson is funny as hell.
This is a must see hilarious movie that will have you leaving feeling good and ready to take a flight to Vegas.

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, heather Graham, Ken Jeong and Mike Tyson
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Rated: R

I give it 5 corn dogs and a soda

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler