Hangover Part II : Definitely Fulfilling Expectations!!!

This past week I had the opportunity to attend the premiere of the much anticipated Hangover 2 before the Memorial Day Weekend crowds. Stu (Ed Helms), Phil (Bradley Cooper) , Doug (Justin Bartha), and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) return as the "Wolf Pack" attending Stu's wedding in Thailand two years after their escapade in Las Vegas. After "another" wild night in Bangkok with Stu's future brother-in-law, Teddy (Mason Lee), a musical prodigy and pre-medical student at Stanford University. Leslie Chow (Kim Jeong) from the original Hangover and a comedic capuchin monkey also join the crew. The Wolf Pack awaken to find themselves in a dirty hotel room facing the same predicament from the first Hangover.

The Wolf Pack awaken to find Stu's face tattooed and Alan head shaven, but the situation only gets ultimately worse. The crew cannot find Teddy and discovered one of his severed fingers. After finding Chow passed out on the floor and naked; they question him about the events of the previous night. Chow only makes into the story partially before his heart stops after snorting a rather large "BUMP" of cocaine. Side note: I have seen enough "drug-related" movies and documentaries to know what a regular size (line) of cocaine looks like. After panicking, the crew decides to stash Chow's body within a ice machine on the 15th Floor, which they have to walk due to the constant power outage throughout Bangkok. Afterwards the guys rush to the rooftops, from previous events in the original Hangover, to find Teddy but to their dismay he is not there either. This prompts them to empty their pockets and look for clues.

The guys quickly contact Doug, which had left the crew in the early evening and is at the wedding location, to inform him of the events at hand. Doug informs them of the events going on with the wedding as well as Teddy having been lock up for disorderly conduct and is currently sitting in jail. The crew bail who they think is Teddy, but it turns out to be an elderly Monk that has taken a vow of silence; which is definitely of no help. So after a run in with International gangstas, undercover Interpol officials, Russian mobsters, Kathoey stripping prostitutes, and their constant fussing and fighting between each other; the crew discovers that they have once again been drug-laced by Alan in attempts to temporarily get rid of Teddy because he does not feel he is member of the Wolf Pack.

Phil once again makes the phone call to Doug's wife, Tracy, and Stu's fiancee', Lauren, and let's them know that they have "Fucked Up" and that there will not be a wedding. Stu quickly interrupts Phil while speaking to Lauren to let her know that everything is going as planned after having an epiphany and figuring out where Teddy is located. The guys quickly rush back to the hotel to find Teddy stuck in the elevator with his hand wrapped up. As they collect Teddy and rush back to the wedding, the crew realize that they have survived another another wild, drug-induced night together. After a wild conversation with Lauren's father, a beautiful wedding, and an eye-covering performance by Mike Tyson the guys (including Teddy and Mike Tyson) take the infamous oath and viewing of the pictures (stored on Teddy's camera phone) from the night before showing their escapades.

In my opinion this is a very hilarious film and definitely a must see for those who've seen the first Hangover. I give this film 4.5 Reels!!!!

[Sources used: http://hangoverpart2.warnerbros.com/; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1411697/; http://www.popeater.com/2011/05/29/hangover-2-memorial-day-box-office-record/]

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Kung Fu Panda 2

This week I had the chance, with my son, to see Kung Fu Panda 2; another kids flick put out by industry leader Dreamworks. It picks up where the original left off where Po, played by Jack Black, has become the infamous Dragon Warrior along with the Furious Five as they protect the land of Ancient China. Along comes a new villain with a terrible new invention that may disrupt the land's ancient ways as well as the world. Before being able to defeat this new and formidable villain, Po must face the facts about his past that could shake up his world as he knows it. It is up to Po and the Furious five to stop this villain before it is too late. On a scale of 1 to 5 Reels, I will give this one a 3.5 and definitely say that it is worth taking your kids to see this Memorial Day Weekend.

Pirates of the Carribean 4: On Stranger Tides

Now this week I took my step-son to see POTC 4: On Stranger Tides. With this being a Jerry Bruckheimer production, I will admit I was a little apprehensive about seeing yet another epic that started out very well but, in my opinion, began to turn into another way to get the high admission of tickets out of our pocket. Well I will say that I was amazed at the quality of the storyline and the way that it kept my attention outside of being happy that my step-son, nick-named Bam, really enjoyed himself.

Where I was most happy with was the length of the movie and they way the POTC epics do not use the "pizza hut" formats for their movies. What I mean by this is that we aren't getting a movie in 90 minutes or less! By doing this, POTC avoids an insufficient storyline leaving the spectators with questions upon questions when leaving the theater. How many movies and times have we been through this?

What wasn't most satisfying about the movie, in my opinion, was the lack of past characters. Not a major point you think? Well it would have been nice to see Naomie Harris as Calypso,  Martin Klebba as Marty (Dwarf), or even more of Jack the Monkey.  THey were missed but it didn't cause the movie to miss any other elements.

Overall it was a very well written film and is expected to do well after this weekend premiering at the box office. I definitely, in the spirits of Siskel and Ebert, give it two thumbs up!

Lack of Creativity in Today's Film Industry

I have been feeling a certain disappointment from the newly released films to the public for the past year(s). It seems as though there have been so many remade movies, themes, plots, etc. in today's film industry that it leaves one to wonder if the Industry has finally came to it's end of originality. I have recently watched films (now) that have been remade from when I was a child. My children are watching the remakes (movies) in awe and excitement from joy it brings them. All the while, I am sitting there looking at the movie as if it is the worse thing I ever seen on a movie screen.

I search the internet (various blog sites, twitter, Diigo groups, etc,) to see if there were other people sharing my disappointments as well. I came across a website that goes by the name http://TrulyFilmFree.HopeForFilm.com in association with www.HuffingtonPost.com in which the writer (unknown) posted his/her views about 38 Reasons for why the Film Industry is failing. The various and in-depth reasons for why the film industry range from ticket prices and sales to the ethnic background from today's film industry insiders and headliners. As I read the article, which was very informative, it gave me more insight on the industry and opened my eyes to why the Film Industry has transformed from an industry of creation and artistry to an industry of revenue creation. This article is a must read and the writer feels that he/she is able to add an additional 38 reasons.

I also found another (very opinionated) site http://shockncult.wordpress.com that focused more on the themes of films and epics that have been released as of lately. It goes on to talk about about how these film/epics are being overused to the point is has become pathetic and a waste of time. Certain themes, actors/actresses, plots, etc. can only be used but so many times before we grow tired of it and lose interest. "Hollywood is so afraid of messing up that it will not take a chance anymore.  Even the indie scene is becoming that way and it is killing film."

I have pros and cons about both articles but I will say that I agree on the overall point of view that both articles that the film industry is currently failing with not just the movies but also with it's overall decision-making. We need more innovative creations within the Film Industry as well as trend-setters to ensure those creations take place. I believe that once the problems are noticed and the solutions are set that we will see a great change within our ever-changing (non-changing) and beloved Film Industry.

KB