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The Sorcerer’s Apprentice starring Nicholas Cage, Monica Belluci, Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer

Posted on July 23, 2010 Written by ripitup

The Sorcerer's Apprentice movie poster, starring Nicholas Cage — The Sorcerer's Apprentice starring Nicholas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Monica Belluci and Teresa Palmer. Directed by Jon Turteltaub. Image via disnology.com

Balthazar Blake (Nicholas Cage), Veronica (Monica Belluci) and Horvath (Alfred Molina) are sorcerer apprentices to Merlin. They are all very powerful and are supposed to use magic for humanity. When Horvath makes a deal with the evil sorcerer Morgana (Alice Krige), steals a powerful magic and attacks them, Veronica imprisons Morgana in herself ;and herself in a “grimhold” to save Balthazar and the world. Before Merlin dies, he tells Balthazar that he needs to find ther “premerlinian” (I have no idea how to spell that!!)- a sorcerer so powerful that he will be able to destroy Morgana. So Baltahazar searches for this special person for over a thousand years, with no avail.

Come 2000 and by coincidence, the child he is looking for walks into Balthazar’s shop. His name is David Strutter, he is 10 and he is in love with his classmate Becky. Just when Balthazar gives him his special ring and tries to explain his purpose, David accidentally sets Horvath free. This ends in Balthazar imprisoning himself and Horvath in a grimhold and David running away.

Come 2010,David (Jay Baruchel) is a total physics nerd, working on a Tesla related thesis. When he runs into Becky (Teresa Palmer) at the university, he can’t believe his luck. But just when he believes he has a shot with her, Balthazar and Horvath reappear. Balthazar starts training David and involuntarily lets him date as well. In the meantime, Horvath is trying to find himself other sorcerers who can help him with his mission.

Of course Horvath can’t be trusted, Balthazar has a hard time convincing David he is the one and we find about the real reason why Horvath betrayed them.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is an absolute summer fun. This summer gave us totally entertaining action/adventure films with romantic subplots on the side and really good jokes. After Iron Man 2, Prince of Persia The Sands of Time and Knight and Day, we get another fun movie that totally entertains. I couldn’t have cared less if Inception topped this one at the box office. The script is really well-balanced, Nicholas Cage is totally lovely and funny as Balthazar, Alfred Molina makes a fine villain (Chocolat, Spider Man 2) and Monica Belluci is gorgeous as always.

I really liked Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer’s performances as well. The comic timing, action sequences with magic , special affects and chemistry between the cast complement each other perfectly. I laughed a lot and had a great time. This movie is directed by Jon Turteltaub, and I have always loved his directing, regardless of the genre. He has also directed the National Treasure films starring Nicholas Cage, While You Were Sleeping and Phenomenon.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a Jerry Bruckheimer production. It was written by Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, Matt Lopez, Doug Miro and Carlo Bernhard.

But of course keep in mind I love the combination of action/comedy/romance and I am not that into magic.I don’t likethe Harry Potter series. But I am a fan of Cage and Molina and they deliver, big time.

Trailer 1

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VZllR44gdA[/pro-player]

Trailer 2

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ZL3XjwL0E[/pro-player]

8/10. Perfect escapism!

I Love You, Man starring Paul Rudd and Jason Segel

Posted on July 19, 2010 Written by ripitup

I Love You Man starring Paul Rudd, Jason Segel and Rashida Jones. Image via collider.com

Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) is under the impression that his life is perfect. After all, he enjoys his job as a real estate agent and his girlfriend Zooey (Rahida Jones) said yes to his proposal. But as her friends and his family find about their marriage plans, it becomes painfully obvious that Peter doesn’t have any male friends who can be his best man. Zooey’s friend Denise (Jaime Pressly) tries to get him into the group of her grumpy husband Barry (Jon Favreau)’s poker buddies while his gay brother Robbie (Andy Samberg) and his mother (Jane Curtin) fix him up with man-dates. However all these efforts end in disaster as the men either turn up to be weird, annoying or simply gay.

But soon after Peter meets Sydney Fife (Jason Segel) and it seems like it is a male friendship made in heaven. Sydney is fun, upfront, straight, has a good job, a garage full of guitars, loves the band Rush and he really does enjoy hanging out with Peter. While this newly found friendship makes Zooey at first, it slowly puts a strain on the relationship. After all Sydney is too blunt (his wedding toast suggest Zooey should give Peter “bj”s.), he loves being the ultimate bachelor and questions why Peter is getting married at all and he wants to hang out with him very often. Moreover he seems to have odd ideas on how to make Peter sell more houses- which end up pissing off his boss…

How will Peter manage to balance his problems at work, not losing Zooey and not screwing up his friendship?

A male friend recommended this to me as a very entertaining guy flick and he was right. It is really fun and original. Do not be turned off by the term guy flick because it is a very unisex movie. You may not enjoy watching this with kids or parents, but it is perfect to see alone, with friends or with your date. And you can’t say that for a lot of movies.

I love the whole cast. I always found J. K Simmons (he plays Peter’s father) hilarious, I really crack up every time I see Jane Curtin (a habit from watching the hilarious sitcom 3^rd Rock from the Sun). Jon Favreau (Vince Vaughn’s writing/acting buddy- director of Iron Man films) seems to love characters that are not easy to get along with and talk way too much as he keeps playing them. But it is OK because is made for these roles. You probably know Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live. You can watch this hilarious SNL stint where Andy keeps punching everyone. Rashida Jones starred in the mini romcom series NY-LON with True Blood’s Bill (Stephen Moyer) that takes place in both London and New York, hence the name.

Don’t expect a laugh-out-loud comedy. As much as I watched the film with a huge grin on my face, I didn’t really get stomach cramps. For more laughter, I will suggest watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall. It also stars Jason Segel and features Paul Rudd in a small but fun role.

That being said, I have no objection to this film’s high rating 7.3 rating. Written by John Hamburg and Larry Levin, directed by John Hamburg. Made in 2009. Click to watch “I love you, man” trailer on youtube.

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40 Days and 40 Nights starring Josh Hartnett and Shannyn Sossamon

Posted on July 15, 2010 Written by ripitup

40 Days and 40 Nights starring Josh Hartnett and Shannyn Sossamon. Image via onlinefilmler.net

Matt Sullivan’s (Josh Hartnett) girlfriend Nicole (Vinessa Shaw) has left him 6 months ago but he is still not over her. Sure, he is having sex with the attractive women he meets but as he comes to realize, sex has stopped being fun for him. He doesn’t really feel anything, despite being on the verge of having panic attacks during it.

One day, through an encounter with a priest, he gets a “bright” idea: He will not have sex for 40 days. Not only that, but he will stay away from any sex-related activity (doing it himself included), foreplay, kisses, holding hands, touching….He will use these 40 days to fully cleanse himself.

But almost as soon as he starts, he meets a beautiful, laid-back and fun girl named Erica (Shannyn Sossamon- A Knight’s Tale, Moonlight). He can’t stay away from her so he at least tries his hand at being friends. But of course by this time, his friends have set up a webpage about his “mission” and ridiculous amounts of bets are being placed on when he just might explode.

Erica is furious at finding out but given that she is really into Matt, she tries the friends thing too. The problem is –since there is money at stake for others- they just might go out of their way to seduce Matt. So can Matt succeed his mission, say no to temptation and manage not to screw things up with Erica all at once? After all, there is only so much one man is capable of…

40 Days and 40 Nights is a romantic comedy that is as unisex as it goes. If anything, guys might enjoy it even more. Sure, everything concerning Erica is sensual and well romantic but as a girl, you can’t really care about Matt’s problem. It is not a reason not to have a couple of laughs, pitying Matt. It might also very well be the only movie where the guy fakes an orgasm so that he can get it over with. This does get originality points.

Favorite Scene: The very final scene. No, not because the movie is finally over. Because it is ridiculous but also funny. Co-starring is Paul Costanzo as Matt’s best friend, who you might remember from the Friends’ spinoff Joey. He played Joey Tribianni’s nephew.

This is not the funniest romcom out there. Or the most romantic. Its 5.4 IMDB rating seems about fair, as it is only just a bit of fun. But since not many romcoms are focusing on “real male issues”, it might be a good date film. Although guys may not really feel sorry for Matt at all either…5/10 from me. Still, I will take this one over the extremely predictable, clichéd and boring Pearl Harbor anyday (which is another Josh Hartnett movie, also rated at 5.4).

Something’s Gotta Give starring Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves

Posted on July 14, 2010 Written by ripitup

Something's Gotta Give starring Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Amanda Peet and Frances McDormand. Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, in 2003. Image via evlilikhazirliklari.com

Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) is well into his sixties but is still dating much younger women. His latest girlfriend is a young woman named Marin (Amanda Peet) who plans a romantic getaway in the Hamptons. The problem is, the house is her mother’s- successful playwright Erica’s (Diane Keaton), who has just arrived with her sister Zoe (Frances McDormand). Erica is shocked to see a half-dressed old man at her house and is even more shocked to find out he is not an intruder, but her daughter’s boyfriend. At Zoe’s suggestion, they all decide to stay at the house. As she puts it, they are sophisticated adults.

Erica is definitely not impressed with Harry’s track record of dating. She is even less impressed with his attitude towards older women. Later that night Harry has a heart attack and is taken to the hospital. The doctor in charge is Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves), a very handsome 30-something who turns out to be a fan of Erica’s work. To everyone’s surprise, he is flirting with Erica. A bigger, and a much less pleasant surprise comes , however, when Harry doesn’t seem well enough to travel and she ends up having to “babysit” him at her house, alone.

Harry is more than anxious to go back to his life-sex life in particular. But Julian tells him to stay put until he can climb stairs without feeling exhausted. So as Harry and Erica inevitably spend time with each other and realize –to both their horror- that they may be enjoying each other’s company a little too much. Can Harry handle a mature relationship with a woman his age? Will he realize that Erica is actually the one for him? And if he does, does he have a chance against his competitor- the gorgeous, sweet and passionate Julian who is crazy about Erica?

Something’s Gotta Give is a very funny romantic comedy from writer/director Nancy Meyers (The Holiday, What Women Want , It’s Complicated). The storyline is original, the actors are marvelous and the jokes are funny. It is one of those rare romantic comedies where guys will enjoys as much as girls, because the movie balances the two genres very well. In fact, I’d rather say the comedy is much more dominant than the romance. Even when Erica and Harry fall for each other, the reactions entertain you immensely. It is also a breath of fresh air to the couples with age difference theme, as the younger girls want Harry, younger Julian wants Erica and Erica and Harry seem to be more right for each other than both of them will realize.

I don’t need to rave about how brilliant and hilarious Jack Nicholson is. I am a huge fan but I suspect that so are you. Diane Keaton is sweet and just as funny. Frances McDormand’s role is important as she tries to make sure her relationship-wary, divorced sister doesn’t give up an opportunity as hot as Julian. And Keanu Reeves is as charming as ever.

The movie is rated 6.8 on IMDB. As for as romantic comedies go, this deserves a 9, if not a 10. I watched thousands of movies and Nancy Meyers has written/directed the romcoms that top my list. Sure if I have to compare it to all other movies I’ve ever seen, it is probably a fair 7 or 8. But, it is no way justly rated at 6.8. See it and have a great laugh. Of course some people with issues won’t like the film- I read a funny user comment on how it was impossible for Jack Nicholson to pull Amanda Peet, how it was disgusting it was two watch Diane and Jack have sex (right, because only young people with perfect bodies have sex!) and how a guy that looked like Keanu would no way go for Diane…Right, because young men never fell in love with older women…And Jack has never charmed the pants out of every woman with his acting…

You don’t have to suspend your beliefs to like this film. Just see it. Fun is guaranteed.

Favorite Lines:

*Julian hasn’t met the family yet, he is updating them about Harry’s condition:

Julian (Keanu Reeves): Your dad is going to be OK.

Marin (Amanda Peet): He is not my dad.

Julian: Oh, I’m sorry. Your granddad is gonna be okay.

*Harry (Jack Nicholson) to Erica (Diane Keaton) on his seeing her naked by accident and her freaking out:

Harry: Hey! You saw my ass, you don’t see me acting nuts!

* Harry is complaining to Julian about how uptight Erica is.

Harry: I actually saw her naked last night.

Julian: That doesn’t sound so uptight.

Harry: It was an accident. She thought I was asleep, I thought her bedroom was the kitchen.