HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS

Plot:


As kids Hansel and Gretel are left in the woods by their father to protect them from the the fatal fate that would fall upon their parents. Now adults Hansel (Renner) and Gretel (Arterton) become notorious witch hunters armed with hi-tech weaponry. While hunting in their most recent village the sibling duo encounter the head witch Muriel (Janssen) who was responsible for murdering their parents who is there for a special ritual that requires the heart of the lovely Gretel.


Reel Talk:


Please be advised, this is not the kid friendly fairy tale we were taught as children, this one falls right in with the rest of this year's blood and gore movies that's starting this year off.Then you got the dialog and hi-tech gadgets that don't match the time period, but hey this is a Hollywood adaptation of the kiddie folk tale. The action is cool but at a certain point it becomes boring. Not one that you need to rush out to see.

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen and Pihla Viitala
Directed by: Tommy Wirkola
Rated: R

I give it 2 corn dogs

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

PARKER

Plot:


Parker (Statham) a career thief who normally works alone, teams up with a group that he does not know lead by ruthless criminal Melander (Chiklis) for just one job.  Upon completing the heist, Melander and his team ambush Parker, taking his share of the score and leaving him for dead. But beating the odds, Parker is nursed back to being healthy so that he can set out on a road of revenge against the criminal crew along with the help of an unsuspecting financially challenged real estate agent named Leslie (Lopez) who just might be in over her head.


Reel Talk:


Off the rip, Jason Statham's movies are not designed for quality acting but rather to offer over saturated unrealistic action and this one does not fall short. Then you add Jennifer Lopez in for a little sex appeal (heck you even get a shot of her infamous booty) and this makes for entertainment. Fans of either Jason or Jennifer will enjoy this. or if you're a die hard action junkie this should be a quick fix. An enjoyable action movie at best to be added to this year's blood and gore fest.

Starring: Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis, Wendell Pierce. Clifton Collins Jr., Emma Booth and Nick Nolte
Directed by: Taylor Hackford
Rated: R

I give it 2 and a half eaten corn dogs.

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

THE LAST STAND

Plot:


When town Sheriff Ray Owens (Schwarzenegger) notices some unusual happenings around his small but routinely run community and then becomes engaged into a bloody gunfight  with some heavily armed bandits, he finds out that none of this is just by chance. It is then brought to his attention by FBI Agent John Bannister (Whitaker) that the Mexican drug cartel leader Gabriel Cortez (Noriega), violently escaped his custody and is headed that way by means of a super charged, customized Corvette with a hostage in tow, to cross the border through Ray's town. But sworn to duty, he prepares to take a stand along with a rag tag group of deputies and very limited resources.


Reel Talk:


I will start by saying this will be the year of the gore. So far the few movies this year have been ultra violent and this one falls right in line (and we're only in January...lol). Now if you can stand the blood, this is an entertaining movie, packed with action. I said action not acting because Arnold is not known to be a great actor, but the now old man still delivers the action. And then there is Luis Guzman and Johnny Knoxville distributing the humor through out the movie trying to give it balance. Not a great movie but action junkies will enjoy it, fast car speed junkies will enjoy it or plain ole Arnold fans will enjoy it. So it is worth checking out.

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Eduardo Noriega, Luis Guzman, Jaimie Alexander, Johnny Knoxville, Christiana Leucas and Rodrigo Santoro
Directed by: Jee-woon Kim
Rated: R

I give it 3 corn dogs.

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

BROKEN CITY

 Plot:


When New York police detective Billy Taggart (Wahlberg) gets caught in an alleged wrongful shooting, the city's big man Mayor Hostetler (Crowe) uses his influence to get him cleared of any charges but assures Taggart that he will need his services one day. A few years later, Taggart now a private investigator gets a call from the mayor who wants him to investigate the possible infidelities of his wife, the 1st lady Cathleen Hostetler (Zeta-Jones). But soon after his investigation, the mayor's wife's associate is murdered and Taggert realizes that things are not what they appear and he was used by the mayor to help cover up some corrupt dealings that could damage his career as the mayor. The erratic Taggart sets out to on a course of revenge and will let nothing or no one stop him from getting to the truth.



Reel Talk:


This is another movie that cracks open the lid on city corruption, which is the topic for most cities these days. Where as Wahlberg puts in another performance similar to pretty much all his performances, Russell Crowe as the ruthless and greedy mayor was out cold. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jeffrey Wright also put in very impressive performances as well. Directed by one half of the Hughes Brothers (Menace To Society), Allen does a good job on his solo directing debut for this action suspense thriller. This is a very good mind twister where nothing is as it appears, so you definitely have to pay attention and follow along. Good movie, worth shelling out the dollars to see.

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright, Barry Pepper and Alona Tal
Directed by: Allen Hughes
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs.

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler

GANGSTER SQUAD

Plot:


During the 40's, out in LA the streets bleed a river of blood at the hands of Mickey Cohen (Penn), a once professional boxer turned gangster. Tired of taking orders from the Syndicate, he sets out to be the boss of the city, aligned with a gun toting army and crooked politicians in his pocket, he apeared untouchable until the uncorruptable police Chief Parker (Nolte) puts together a team of no holds barred police officers led by the hard nose Sgt. John O'Mara (Brolin) and his partner Jerry Wooters (Gosling) to shut Cohen's operation down. O'Mara knows that to beat a monster you have to be a monster and that he becomes as he along with his team steps into the dark, violent world of the crime lord Cohen.


Reel Talk:


This is a good solid gangster movie base on the rise and fall of Mickey Cohen. The performances are on point from , Brolin, Gosling and the rest of the cast, but this by far is one of Sean Penn's best performance of late.  he does an excellent job as the violently ruthless Cohen. One of the good things about this movie is where it is violent, it's not all in your face, most of the times you have to just use your imagination as to whats going on. From beginning to end you will not lose interest. This movie is well worth checking out!

Starring: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Nick Nolte, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick and Giovanni Ribisi
Directed By: Ruben Fleischer
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler.

A HAUNTED HOUSE

Plot:


Malcolm (Wayans) and Kisha (Atkins) are a young couple that just purchased a new home in an upscale suburban area. Everything seems to be going well for the young love birds until some strange things begin to happen around the house. In order to get to the bottom of the weird incidents, they put cameras around the house to capture the cause. Soon they find out that they have some paranormal activity in the house that the pair will do whatever it takes to drive the unwanted guest out before it drives them out.


Reel Talk:


So far this is the funniest film in the new year! Marlon Wayans who is one of the writers and producers as well as acts in this parody spoofing the Paranormal Activity movies is on another level. Stepping out on his own, away from his celebrity siblings Marlon along with his partner Rick Alvarez puts together a solid funny movie with a great supporting cast that blends right in, each one contributing to the hilarious mayhem. It's an all out joke fest that will not let up off you. If die hard off the chain comedy is what you need this movie aims to please. Worth the admission and some snacks on the side!
Be sure to catch my interview with Marlon Wayans on my blog wall about his movie A Haunted House.

Starring: Marlon Wayans, Essence Atkins, David Koechner, Rick Swardson, Andrew Daly, Cedric The Entertainer and Affion Crockett
Directed by: Michael Tiddes
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs and a soda on the side.

By: Corn Dog - The Reel Hustler