Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Director: Michael Bay

Stars: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, John Turturro

Genre: Action

Studio: Dreamworks

Audience Suitability: PG

Release Date: June 24, 2009

Running Time: 150 Minutes

Reviewed by Robert Waldman (Vancouver, BC)

Brace yourself for a special effects spectacular with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Full of action, this Dreamworks stunner currently is breathing fire at Empire Oakridge Cinemas, Empire Studio 12, Colossus and Famous Players Silver City cites everywhere. Children the world over will fondly recall the toy figures from Hasbro that little tykes had a field day trying to put together. No one thought that a big screen film based on these building blocks that took different shapes would catch on at the box office. Transformers introduced us to some earthlings and an alien species or two out to gain control of the planet. Revenge of the Fallen shows us what happens when one of the alien forces becomes rather aggrieved.

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Film Review

Title: Year One

Director: Harold Ramis

Principle Cast: Jack Black, Michael Cera, David Cross, Oliver Platt, Olivia Wilde

Studio: Columbia Pictures

Producers: Harold Ramis, Judd Apatow, Clayton Townsend

Running Time: 100 Minutes

Rating: 14A

Released: June 19, 2009

Reviewed By Alan Jones (Toronto)

Year One is a tremendous waste of talent and, more importantly, a tremendous waste of time. It’s not hard imagining a good movie made out of a similar premise - Monty Python’s Life of Brian comes to mind - but director Harold Ramis opted not to make a film full of intelligent humour and wit, but instead extended a one-note joke that would only make for a mildly amusing SNL sketch. It’s a shame, really, for a couple of reasons. The most notable reason being that Harold Ramis, in his prime, directed some of the best comedies ever, notably Groundhog Day in 1993 and Caddyshack in 1980. Now, however, he’s been relegated to directing this dreck, aimed at the youth of America whom Ramis is so clearly out of touch with.

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Film Review
Title: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Director: Tony Scott
Principle Cast: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, James Gandolfini, Luis Guzman
Studio: Columbia Pictures
Producers: Tony Scott, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch
Running Time: 106 Minutes
Rating: 18A
Released: June 12, 2009



Reviewed By: Alan Jones (Toronto)

This summer’s remake of 1974’s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is, in many ways, a reunion of the team behind 2004’s Man on Fire. Once again, Denzel Washington plays the hero, Tony Scott directs, and Brian Helgeland writes. While both films are solid thrillers, neither are groundbreaking exercises in the genre. If I had to choose, I would probably say Man on Fire was the better film, if only because of some of the crazy ass things the screenplay required of Denzel, and one of Christopher Walken’s best lines: “Creasy’s art is death. He’s about to paint his masterpiece”. This film, formatically retitled The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, is more commercial than that film, and should reap the benefits at the box office. The other thing that’s different about this film is the presence of John Travolta, who co-leads as the villain, and is welcome addition to the team.

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Film Review

Title: TYSON

Director: James Toback

Stars: Mike Tyson

Genre: Documentary

Running Time: 90 min

Reviewed By David Davidson (Montreal)

What makes James Toback’s documentary Tyson such a curious study is in its ability to commodify the retired boxer by getting him to communicate his painstaking experiences, motivations and contradictions. The film is beautifully weaved through single and split screen interview sessions in Mr. Tyson’s apartment, solitude sunset scenes on Ocean Beach, archive footage and photographs.

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