Sunday, June 21, 2009

cK At the Movies: June 21, 2009

CK reviews the "Tropic Thunder" DVD and goes to the theatre to see "The Taking of Pelham 123".

Welcome to the another edition of "CK At The Movies"! I'm your reviewer, CrazyK and today I will be reviewing two movies. The first on the list is of the DVD, "Tropic Thunder".

TROPIC THUNDER:(2008)
Starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey, Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Nick Nolte, Tom Cruise, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey

I remember going to the theatre early in 2008 and seeing posters for Tropic Thunder and anticipating its summer release. Just knowing that it was a Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. flick was enough for me to pay my money to see it as I enjoy everything those actors put out individually.

By now, if you haven't seen this movie or heard about some of the crazy scenes in it, then you have totally been deprived of one of the funniest comedies to have come out in a very long time. Maybe you are reading this review and will go and see the movie after, so I will try and not spoil any surprises for you. Needless to say, the movie is awesome. It is a full action comedy that was very well written and makes you wanting to see more. In the theatre, it was pure gold. The DVD is even better!! How so? Let me elaborate!

The DVD has so many extras and deleted scenes that you wish were in the movie, but that's not the big reason why I would urge you to get the dvd. Many dvd's have a director's commentary or sometimes a cast commentary. With this dvd, Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. (who has not broken character, and is still playing Kirk Lazarus who is playing Sergeant Lincoln Osiris) do the commentary and are hillarious. You MUST watch the movie with this version after you have seen the regular version as its now a completely different experience. I really enjoyed this movie and have already seen it over 25 times!

Trivia: Tom Cruise was initially set to cameo as Stiller's character's agent, Rick Peck. Instead, Cruise suggested adding a studio head character to the film, and it was worked into the script. Stiller and Cruise worked together to create the new character, Les Grossman, as a middle-aged businessman whose appearance and personality was reportedly based in part on Stuart Cornfeld, Ben Stiller's producer partner of ten years. That resemblance led to Cruise donning a fat suit, fake large hands, and a bald cap for the role. It was Cruise's idea to give the character large hands, and to dance to "Low".

MORE Trivia: After Cruise vacated the role of Rick Peck, Owen Wilson was cast to play the part. However, Wilson dropped out of the film following his attempted suicide in August 2007 and was replaced by Matthew McConaughey.




THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123:(2009)
Starring Denzel Washington, John Travolta

The movie that would supposedly be one of summer 2009's big blockbusters didn't really seem to seem.. umm.. "blockbustery" enough for me. I wouldn't say that the movie was a good movie, I will just say that the movie was alright.

Sure, you have two Hollywood heavyweights, Denzil and Travolta -- yet I think it was either the directing or the script that seemed to be lacking some substance. The movie wasn't really much of a nail biter or suspense or even action, I wouldn't even know what to categorize it because I think it was trying to be all of those but failed to do so. If you do see this movie, you may enjoy it a bit for some of the pleasantries exchanged by Denzil and Travolta, but other than that it was kinda boring! Yes, I actually went there! I'll tell you what though, it will make a great tv movie for TBS Sundays --- then its worth watching when you are sitting at home doing nothing. Otherwise, its going straight to the dvd pile!