Major Update 1

I’ve really been neglecting this blog over the last couple of months, but now that I’m out of school for a while I’m gonna review the 21 movies I’ve seen since my last update. These won”t be full length reviews but shorter ones hitting on the major high (or low) points of the film. They’ll also have 2 or 3 movies per post.

Adventureland

Director:
Greg Mottola

Writer:
Greg Mottola

Cast:
Jesse Eisenberg as James Brennan
Kristen Stewart as Em Lewin
Ryan Reynolds as Mike Connell

Released: 2009
Studio: Miramax
Box Office: $16,044,025

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
IMDB Score: 7.3

Format: DVD

Here is another comedy following the Judd Apatow formula for funny. An everyman schlup, semi-loser James Brennan gets a summer job at the local amusement park and falls for one of his female coworkers. Ryan Reynold plays a Stifler-esque Mike Connell, an order guy who also works at the park. Kristen Stewart shows that she is actually a competent actress when not stuck in that Twilight garbage. Jesse Eisenberg turns in another good performance thats just proves to me again that he is one of my favorite up-and-coming actors.

Favorite Performance:
Jesse Eisenberg as James Brennan

Favorite Quote:
Sue O’Malley: What are you majoring in?
Joel: Russian literature and Slavic languages.
Sue O’Malley: Oh wow, that’s pretty interesting. What career track is that?
Joel: Cabby, hot dog vendor, marijuana delivery guy. The world is my oyster.

Grade:
B-

X Men Origins: Wolverine

Director:
Gavin Hood

Writers:
David Benioff and Skip Woods

Cast:
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
Liev Schreiber as Victor
Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson

Released: 2009
Studio: Fox
Box Office: $179,883,157

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 36%
IMDB Score: 6.7

Format: Blu-ray

To me, Wolverine’s backstory was not something that I really wanted explored. Part of his awesomeness, was the mystery surrounding his life before the Adamantium skeleton was inserted. I’m sure it was explained in the comics, but the casual fan (like me) didn’t know anything about Logan, just Wolverine. This movie is full of cliches and all the big budget summer movies staples like slow motion action shots and tons and tons of splosions!!!!!!!!! But it never fully develops the intriguing side characters. Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool(who is also getting his own movie soon) who only had like 5 lines in the whole film. Is it just me, or was he in a lot of movies this year?

Grade:
C-