Movie Review: Tropic Thunder

I have to admit. I have mixed feelings about this film.

Needless to say, it will easily be remembered as one of the funniest R-rated comedies of this year, but I find myself with a little pain of disappointment. It's hilarious, it has great acting, but it could have been so much more.

Tropic Thunder tells the story of a group of famous actors shooting a gritty Vietnam film that is constantly derailed by their own egos and the typical Hollywood system. So the director decides that the only way to get a good movie out of them was to stick them into the middle of the actual Vietnam, something that a few of the characters fail to realize. What follows is a wonderful comedic romp, that satires the Hollywood industry rather well.

What is great about this film is the excellent performance from Robert Downey Jr. as a character actor that takes things too far. I thought it was a great turn for the character to actually be a voice of reason, yet seems strangely compelled to stay in character. Bravo, Mister Downey to play a comedic character with depth, not an easy accomplishment.

Another stand out is the surprise appearance of Tom Cruise playing an overly aggressive, over weight film producer. His role was unexpected because it was never advertised and he easily stole the scene every time his character graced the screen. I do admit that I found his dance number a little over the top, I think the film would have been a little better if his quirk was a little less cheesy and much more disturbing.

Ben Stiller does an excellent job of directing this feature. The movie looks and feels flawless, with all the comedic timing hitting at the right times and the music matching perfectly. The downside though is Ben Stiller's acting. Not that it is bad, its just the same character we have always seen from him. It doesn't detract from the film, but it doesn't really add anything either. I wish his character had some sort of personality trait that made him stand out a little more. It was tough though, when you have an excellent performance from Downey to compete with.

Jack Black is funny, but his character was almost forgettable. Because of the story arc he was given, it felt like watching a family sitcom where the crazy uncle shows up every once in a while to prove his existence. Though I must admit the satirical faux trailer at the beginning of the film done by Black is hilarious and highlights everything that is so wrong with a certain trend in Hollywood.

The biggest complaint I have towards this movie is its sheer amount of raunchiness. It is very much an R rated film through and through and doesn't even try and be something else. I am no prude by any stretch but there is a point where things go a little too far, and I found myself a little disgusted at a few scenes, unlike the good kind of crude humor where you laugh in spite of what you see (though this film had plenty of that too). I think there where certain things that went to far, but nothing really taking away from the movie experience. The same joke could have been funnier if certain things didn't distract from the joke.

Despite my negatives, the film overall is rather excellent and just plain funny. If you like to laugh, and have a thick enough skin, I highly recommend seeing this while it is still in the theaters. Movies like this reward going to see it in an audience.

Here is the preview, see you at the movies:

Graphic Novel Review: Watchmen

I can't believe I never read this before. It's won a Hugo award for a category that was created so that it can win a Hugo award. It was up for a Pulitzer, and is the only graphic novel to make Time Magazine's 100 Greatest Literary Works of the 20th Century.

Honestly, as a self professed Geek, I should have done this long ago. It's not like I have any aversion to the Graphic Novel form. Occasionally a comic will pass before my eyes if the story is promising enough.

But with the recent trend to adapting some of these higher end stories into film, I decided I would take the drastic step of actually reading one before the film came out this time.

And let me tell you something, if you had your choice of only reading one Graphic Novel in your life, you would most undoubtedly read Watchmen.

For the uninitiated, Watchmen is the story of an alternate 1985, where the existence of super heroes has lead to an American dominance in the Cold War. However this has lead to an increasingly desperate Soviet Union coming closer and closer to causing nuclear Armageddon. The tone of the people on the street is an increasing feeling of despair as the doomsday clock sits permanently at 5 minutes to midnight. Amiss all this, a seemingly random person is murdered. The character Rorschach, one of the last costumed vigilantes after their outlaw, decides to investigate, an investigation that has farther more terrifying consequences then he could have ever suspected.

Structurally speaking, the story is written very much like a season of the show Lost (and it has been cited as an influence on that show), in that as the main plot moves along through the story we are given flashbacks and details about the main characters past. However, unlike the aforementioned show, it never feels like filler and you come to appreciate it as you understand the characters actions and motives.

The first and foremost thing about this work is the great pain writer Alan Moore went to make the characters as human as possible. Each character is unique in its own way, but is oddly understandable. You can actually imagine meeting some of these characters, not as great figures, but as a normal person you may find in everyday travels. As you read this, you see and understand their struggles and can emphasize with their decisions.

The setting of the nature of the world around them translates well into our own time, not just the time it was publish. Fear and uncertainty plague the characters, with many of them asking whether or not humanity is even worth fighting for, a quintessential question of our existence being debated by people who have the power to change the world.

And essentially, that is the fundamental commentary of this book, Power. How it effects you, how you use it wisely, or how you can misuse it, and what happens when human flaws are entered into the equation.

Another thing to note is the sheer density of this book and the creative touches used to pack the pages full of extra content and reading that more then rewards those who wish to take a second or even third pass at it.

It isn't for the squeamish. It is pretty much the comic book equivalent of an R rated movie. It is a very mature story, and I wouldn't recommend it to any children anytime soon. Chances are they wouldn't get any enjoyment out of it anyways.

But, if you can, whatever you do, buy a copy of this book and read it. You will be rewarded.

Now I leave you with the trailer to the upcoming film adaptation to give you a little taste into the Watchmen world:

Welcome!

I started this site just to have an outlet for my opinions on any and all entertainment I may find myself watching, reading, or just plain enjoying.

This will include, Movies, Television Shows, Novels, Graphic Novels, etc. The list is practically endless. If I have seen it I will post about it, and hopefully you may find a few things you like along the way.

So stay tuned! I plan to keep this site updated regularly. So repeat viewing will be a must!