Box Watcher

Discipline is a bitch.  I totally meant to get these reviews out BEFORE I left for the football trip.  Between laziness and the fact I don’t have much to say about these films, I didn’t get it done.  Now I’m about to be swamped.  I’ve gotten back from the football trip, which was great and I’ll have more to say about it when I get my pics back, I just saw The Simpson’s Movie and am trying to plan on seeing Talk To Me, Rescue Dawn, Sunshine, and maybe Once in the next couple of weeks before Superbad comes out.  Add in the fact that Wizard World Chicago is this weekend and my usually slacker life is pretty busy this month.  Anyway, I’m formulating a schedule to keep updates coming on a regular basis.  I ask that you that you stick with me here and don’t be afraid to contact me with feedback or to help kick me in the butt if I’m not writing.    So, without any further ado, here is a  quick look at few of the summer movies I’ve seen the last few months.

Live Free or Die Hard: I touch on this more in our latest episode of View from the Cheapseats podcast.  This series has become a total mockery of itself.  The first film was an example of how great an action flick can be, great villains with a great plan, a very likable “everyman” hero in John McClane, and action about as believable as can be.  This one has a shaky villain, a questionable plan, and cartoonish action that builds no tension whatsoever.  Big disappointment.  ** out of *****.

Sicko: I like Michael Moore’s movies.  I accept the fact he sometimes plays loose with facts and he definitely has a biased agenda.  With that in mind what I admire is that Moore is able to raise questions that should be asked.  In Sicko he tackles the problems around health-care in the United States.  He tells us the hard luck stories we have come to expect and takes us to other countries, such as Canada, England, France, and Cuba, to show us how great their systems are.  The only problem is that he doesn’t balance it with the problems of these systems.  The stuff with the 9/11 volunteers is heartbreaking.  You may not agree with Michael Moore but Sicko is worth a debate.  **** out of *****.

I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry:  Jessica Biel looks as great as she ever has and we get to see her various stages of undress, including in a Catwoman costume, and this movie was still awful.  I like Sandler and James but this movie is a real stinker.  Not sure exactly I expected but it wasn’t this.  * out of *****.

Jaws:  Okay Ty, you do know it’s 2007 and not 1977 don’t you?  There is a great old time movie theater in Downers Grove, Il.  called The Tivoli.  Two times a month The After Hours Film Society holds screenings of foreign or indy films.  They also have a film festival for local film students.  What does that have to do with Spielberg’s Shark?  They held a fundraiser screening of Jaws.  I’ve never seen it at the theater so I had to go.  Not the best print but not bad either.  Great fun seeing it with an audience.  ***** out of *****.