Movie review: dark genre reboot ‘Ninja Assassin’ sports a dull blade

November 23rd, 2009 Review: ‘Ninja Assassin’ sports a dull bladeWhen considering the meager merits of the bone-snapping, blood-splattered “Ninja Assassin,” it’s best to remember the words of John Goodman’s PC-challenged character in “The Big Lebowski”: “The man in the black pajamas, Dude. Worthy … adversary.”The makers of “Ninja Assassin” want to make those words real and rescue the ninja from the province of turtles.

Rain’s ‘Ninja Assassin’ draws inspiration from Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan

November 9th, 2009 more imagesRain’s ninja role draws inspiration from Lee, ChanSEOUL, South Korea — South Korean pop star Rain says he drew inspiration from fellow Asian stars who successfully crossed over to Hollywood when he prepared for his first leading role in an American film. “I watched a lot of action films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan to create a different, unique character in the movie,” the 27-year-old actor-singer said Monday at a press conference in his home country to promote “Ninja Assassin.”Jeong Ji-hoon, who goes by his stage name Rain, was first recognized in the region for his singing and slick dance moves.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Gentlemen Broncos’ and other films this week

October 27th, 2009 Capsule Reviews: ‘Gentlemen Broncos’ and othersCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”Boondock Saints: all Saints Day” — The original 1999 “Boondock Saints” was a ridiculously over-the-top action film about a pair of Irish-American twins (Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus) who set out with guns, recklessness and boozy bravado to rid Boston of criminals and mafia. The film, hardly seen in theaters, became a minor cult classic on DVD.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Where the Wild things Are’ and other films this week

October 13th, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘Wild Things’ and othersCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”Law Abiding Citizen” — The real mystery here isn’t how Gerard Butler’s character manages to wreak explosive, bloody havoc on Philadelphia while confined behind the walls of his jail cell. What’s truly baffling is how the star of the hugely successful “300″ has managed to make yet another questionable movie choice since then, following “P.S.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘9′ and other films this week

September 8th, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘9′ and othersCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”9” — Despite their roughhewn appearance, the resourceful rag dolls in “9” obviously were crafted with great love and care, both by the scientist who made them in the film and the mastermind behind them in real life, director Shane Acker. if only as much complex thought had gone into the script.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Extract’ and other films this week

September 2nd, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘Extract’ and othersCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”All About Steve” — It’s bad enough that Sandra Bullock has found a way to star in not one but two flat romantic comedies this summer, between “The Proposal” in June and now this. But what’s truly baffling — disheartening, really — is the fact that this latest one was written by a woman.

SKorea’s Pusan film festival to honor Hong Kong director Johnnie To

August 14th, 2009 SKorean festival to honor HK director Johnnie ToHONG KONG — one of Asia’s top film festivals will pay tribute to veteran Hong Kong director Johnnie to, known for his stylish action thrillers like “Election” and “Exiled.”South Korea’s Pusan International Film Festival said in a statement Friday it will show 10 of To’s films and host a master class led by the 54-year-old Hong Kong filmmaker during the Oct. 8-16 event in the southern beach resort city.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Funny People’ and other films this week

July 29th, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘Funny People’ and other filmsCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”The Cove” — first comes the noise: a systematic banging of metal poles underwater, a wall of sound that frightens the dolphins and sends them scurrying in the opposite direction. then comes the capture: Japanese fisherman drive these dolphins into a hidden cove, ensnaring them in their nets before deciding which should be sold to marine parks and which should be slaughtered for their meat.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Shrink’ and other films this week

July 21st, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘Shrink’ and other filmsCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”In the Loop” — Earlier this summer, we had “The hurt Locker,” by far the best drama yet about the Iraq war. Now, we have a comedy that finally manages to satirize the war successfully.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Harry Potter’ and other films this week

July 15th, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘Harry Potter’ and other filmsCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”500 Days of Summer” — Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy tries to win girl back: It’s a tale you’ve heard a million times before. But it’s told here in such a relatable, inventive way, it almost feels like the first time.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Bruno’ and other films this week

July 8th, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘Bruno’ and other filmsCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”Bruno” — The problem with “Bruno” is Bruno himself. Compared to Borat there simply isn’t enough to the character to build an entire feature-length film around him.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Ice Age’ and other films this week

June 27th, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘Ice Age’ and other filmsCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”Bruno” — The problem with “Bruno” is Bruno himself. Compared to Borat there simply isn’t enough to the character to build an entire feature-length film around him.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘The Proposal’ and other films this week

June 17th, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘The Proposal’ and other filmsCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”Food, inc.” — You put food in your mouth every day. But do you know exactly what you’re consuming when you pick up chicken breasts at the grocery store or drive though a fast-food restaurant for a quick cheeseburger? or do you even bother to care? probably not, says documentarian Robert Kenner — and you should.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘The Hangover’ and other films this week

June 3rd, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘The Hangover’ and other filmsCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”The Hangover” — You’d be forgiven for thinking this is a documentary. After all, who hasn’t woken up in a trashed Las Vegas hotel suite with a missing tooth, a tiger in the bathroom, a baby in the closet and little or no memory of what happened the night before? Director Todd Phillips and screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore take this idea to bold new heights — or depths, depending on your perspective — with a comedy that stays weird and wild for the first two-thirds, only to disappoint in the final act.

At the Movies: capsule reviews of ‘Angels & Demons’ and other films this week

May 12th, 2009 Capsule reviews: ‘Angels & Demons’ and other filmsCapsule reviews of films opening this week:”Angels & Demons” — Blessedly, “Angels & Demons” is more entertaining and less self-serious than its predecessor, the dense and dreary yet enormously successful “The Da Vinci Code.” In adapting another of author Dan Brown’s religious-mystery page turners, Ron Howard wisely gave in to its beat-the-clock thriller elements, which makes for a more enjoyable summer-movie experience. But its twists, turns and revelations are just as ridiculous as those in “The Da Vinci Code” — perhaps even more so — and it breezes through arcane details with just as much dizzying speed.