SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

Plot:


When she was a young girl, princess Snow White’s (Stewart) father the king is killed by his bride the evil Ravenna (Theron) who along with her dark army takes over the kingdom. With Ravenna feeding off the youth and beauty of the young village girls, she places Snow White into captivity until her 18th birthday. It is until then that the mirror on the wall has named Ravenna the fairest of them all and now she must kill and extract the young princess’ heart so that she (Ravenna) will forever have youth and immortality. But when Snow White escapes into the Dark Forest, the only one who has the knowledge of the terrain to retrieve her is a drinking widower huntsman (Hemsworth). He takes on the assignment until he realizes who she is and why the evil Ravenna wants her and instead decides to protect her so that she may avenge her father’s death.


Reel Talk:

Parental warning: This is not your kiddie version of Snow White! Although it has a dark overtone, this is a beautifully cinematic film. The stars Theron, Hemsworth and Stewart (who normally has a dull appreance in her Twilight films) look great in this movie. Theron , who I must say this is probably the best that I have ever seen her, will most likely get nominated for an Oscar for her riveting role as the menacing Ravenna. With the new twist to this legendary fairy tale, this is one movie you should check out.

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Sam Claflin and Ian Mchane
Directed by: Rupert Sanders
Rated: PG-13

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corn Dog – The Reel Hustler

HIGH SCHOOL

Plot:


Henry Burke (Bush) is an all A student on track to be class valedictorian until he rekindles an old friendship with the high school stoner Travis Breaux (Marquette). The two sit around kicking it about the old days and smoking marijuana not knowing that the principal played by Michael Chiklis is holding an all out drug testing to expel any students that test positive for drug usage so that his school will maintain prestige status. With his chance of class valedictorian at stake the two boys figure the only way to not get caught is to rob local drug dealer Psycho Ed (Brody) of his most potent marijuana and lace the brownies at the school bake sale so that everyone will test positive. But what they didn’t expect is that it would turn the entire school into a zoo of pandemonium.


Reel Talk:


In this watered down version of all the stoner movies before it, the jokes just like the film is dated. The film which is really 2 years past its original release period might have worked 2 years ago. Not the funniest movie but good for a few laughs, but the real problem is the timing. With all the issues about our youth, K2 and Spice (manufactured marijuana), is this the proper movie to present to our youth now, making it seem that to get high is cool? Just not a good look at this point in time, they could and should have kept this one on the shelf and I understand that this is just a paycheck movie for Chiklis, Brody and even Colin Hanks because definitely no awards will be handed out for this one. This movie gets the wait til cable nod from me.

Starring: Michael Chiklis, Adrien Brody, Colin Hanks, Matt Bush, Sean Marquette, Adhir Kalyan and Mykelti Williamson
Directed by: John Stalberg
Rated: r

I give it 1 corn dog

By: Corn Dog – The Reel Hustler

MEN IN BLACK III

Plot:


In this third installment to the MIB series, Agents J (Smith) and K (Jones) are back at it to once again save the world from another an alien takeover. This time when one of Agent K’s old nemesis Boris the Animal (Clement) escapes from a maximum security prison on the Moon , by way of a time travel device he travels back in time so that he can change the course of action that landed him in prison by killing Agent K before it happens. Realizing what’s about to change his and the Earth’s dynamics, Agent J travels back into time and partners with a young Agent K (Brolin) to stop Boris from altering the course that if changed would be a global catastrophe.


Reel Talk:


Right off I will say Men In Black III is whack! This should be the final installment to the series, let’s just put it to rest. There is nothing fresh or new about this movie other than a fail attempt with the 3D effects that offer nothing in 3D. With the exception of seeing Brolin ace the role as a young Agent K, the movie has no spark. The flame that once burned great chemistry between Smith and Jones has burned out. Hopefully Smith will now focus on some more substantially meaningful films. This one can definitely be caught on a DVD rental.

Starring: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement and Emma Thompson
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld
Rated: PG-13

I give it 2 corn dogs.

By: Corn Dog – The Reel Hustler

BATTLESHIP

Plot:


Alex Hopper (Kitsch), a misguided and wayward young man who upon getting in trouble is presented with the options of going to jail or join the naval academy under his brother Commander Stone Hopper (Skarsgard) takes the latter. Still even in the academy he allows his erratic character to overshadow his talents jeopardizing his tenure with the Navy and his relationship with his girlfriend Sam (Decker) whose father Admiral Shane (Neeson) holds his fate in his hands.While in midst of naval training exercises in the Pacific Ocean, the US fleet becomes engaged in a war of battleships with a group of alien invaders that were inadvertently summoned here by a communication signal from NASA. When Alex is placed in the position of captain for one of the battleships, he must utilize all his calculating strategies to prevent the aliens from signaling more of their ships to enter Earth’s atmosphere causing complete annihilation.


Reel Talk:


What do you get when you combine Transformers and Independence Day together? The answer is Battleship! Based on the old school Hasbro game of the same name, Battleship although a seemingly spin off of the two before mentioned blockbuster films does not quite stack up to them. Yes it is action packed and very entertaining but just lacks originality. Most of the scenes are pretty much borrowed from the other films. The other problem with this movie and others like it (even the box crushing The Avengers), is that they want us to believe that if we were invaded and the aliens using hi-tech laser weapons and the US starts off using traditional weapons like hand guns or assault rifles which when used the bullets bounce off the aliens like pebbles, can ward any invasion from another planet? I don’t think so!!! Once again this is a entertaining movie, with some attractive and impressing talents from the cast in Kitsch, Skarsgard, Rihanna and Decker who is doing a double release with What To Expect When You’re Expecting opening this weekend as well. It is worth going out and seeing opening weekend, so check it out.

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Tadanobu Asano and Liam Neeson
Directed by: Peter Berg
Rated: PG-13

I give it 3 corn dogs.

By: Corn Dog – The Reel Hustler

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING

Plot:

This film takes you through the experiences of five couples who are expecting babies either by natural child birth or adoption. With everyone’s life already in a vigorous and strenuous mode, it begins to unfold new challenges for both sexes as they must prepare for the new addition that will change their lives forever. Where the women contend with the mood swings and hormonal changes to their bodies, the men are now faced with the grueling fear of becoming a parent to the point that a few join a weekend group for parenting fathers headed up by Vic (Rock) who prepares them on what to expect in regards to being a father.


Reel Talk:

What should you expect of this movie, with an all star cast? Well you can expect a funny, enlightening and entertaining movie. Not that it’s a great movie by any means but an enjoyable movie at best. The cast is well placed and puts in good performances across the board, even down to the kids, especially the little boy that plays rock’s son. Most films like this one is complex in bringing the characters and story together but this one has no problem mixing it all together. Delightfully funny date movie worth checking out!

Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Ben Falcone, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock and Rodrigo Santoro
Directed by: Kirk Jones
Rated: PG-13

I give it 3 corn dogs.

By: Corn Dog – The Reel Hustler

THE DICTATOR

Plot:


Haffaz Aladeen (Cohen) is the dim witted but ruthless dictator of the oil rich country of Waadeya. With his intention set on developing a nuclear bomb so he can become a legitimate threat to the world, he is summoned to a meeting by the UN in New York to address concerns about the use of the weapon of mass destruction. But while in The Big Apple, he becomes victim to a failed assassination attempt by his uncle (Kingsley) who uses a body double to replace the dictator so as to turn Waadeya into a country ruled by democracy. Aladeen must do whatever it takes to infiltrate the UN meeting to prevent this from happening, including taking up on a job, something that he is not accustomed to as well as being told what to do, especially by his female boss Zoey (Faris).


Reel Talk:


Sacha Baron Cohen is a complete fool! The Dictator will be included to his resume as another one of his ridiculously hilarious films. It’s a very funny movie! Unlike his previous two films where in some scenes where some of the pranks were shot unknowingly by unsuspecting participates, this one is pretty much scripted and well scripted I might add. They say laughter is good medicine, well this is definitely prescribed by the doctor if a good laugh is what you need.

Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Anna Faris and Sayeb Badreya
Directed by: Larry Charles
Rated: R

I give it 4 corn dogs

By: Corn Dog – The Reel Hustler

THE AVENGERS

Plot:


Nick Fury (Jackson) who heads up S.H.I.E.L.D. (a secret group designed to protect the world), while working on a project involving the powerful gammar ray energy, is attacked and soon relieved of the energy by Loki (Hiddleston) who plans to use the powerful ray to open a universal portal allowing an alien army to attack and destroy Earth. Realizing that the world’s only hope is Fury’s special secret assignment team ‘The Avengers’ which consist of Captain America (Evans), Iron Man (Downey), Thor (Hemsworth), Black Widow (Johansson), The Hulk (Ruffalo) and eventually Hawkeye (Renner), each with various super powers and/or talents, they unite to try to prevent the Earth’s demise at the hands of the deceptive Loki.


Reel Talk:


This movie is off the chain! This is probably the best Marvel Comic movie adaptation out of all the ones made so far.The way they meshed all the heroes together after the success of their solo movies and a well written story. Add in the unlimited action and time calculated humor, this is one awesome movie. Each character’s role was well placed and well acted by the respected actors and actresses. Kudos to director Joss Whedon, who did a great job putting it all together, creating what is one of the better movies of 2012. This is definitely a must see movie and well worth a second view!

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Rated: PG-13

I give it 5 corn dogs and a soda on the side.

By: Corn Dog – The Reel Hustler