Men in Black 3 - Review

Josh Brolin makes for a damn good Agent K, slick.

Men in Black 3 isn't the best of the trilogy, but it's still an entertaining edition to a popular franchise.  True to the form of the previous MIB movies, we're introduced to a slew of disgusting, and often hilarious, extraterrestrials brought to life by the famous Universal make-up man Rick Baker (and some CGI).  Agents J and K have to hunt down one particularly ugly alien who's bent on seeking revenge and, you know, taking over the planet.  And, finally, we get a genuinely touching moment at the end of the film (much like the first in the series) which I won't spoil.  MIB3 is a lot of fun and still manages to feel fresh most of the time.  For me, the most clever parts of the film are the more subtle ones.  For instance, the suggestion that Hollywood favorites like Lady Gaga and Tim Burton are aliens, seen on monitors in the background of MIB HQ.  I could've done without the more childish moments like Emma Thompson's imitation of an alien dialect.  Josh Brolin, however, makes for an uncanny younger version of Tommy Lee Jones' Agent K.  The MIB series seems to be kin to the Lethal Weapon movies.  J even says "I'm too old for this" at one point during this film.  Like Riggs and Murtaugh, Agents J and K are a recognizable, lovable Hollywood duo.  While MIB3 won't be winning any awards for best third installment, it still makes for a fun time at the movies with some old, intergalactic friends.

4 out of 5

Beginners - Review

Each character has a different means of communication.

Beginners is one of my new favorite movies.  I don't think I've ever felt such an immediate and personal connection to a movie.  It's not that any of the specific plot points have happened in my life (no folks, my father isn't gay), but rather that I find myself thinking a lot like the main character and even the filmmakers.  This film is a distinct experience, a piece of cinema with true personality.  The director's style mirrors the mindset of the main character.  Viewers are presented with "simple and happy," but we end up with "complex and emotional."  Like the characters in the film, we're constantly starting a new chapter in our lives.  The players often change from one chapter to the next, as we, too, evolve from day to day.  I found the film to be a beautiful example of modern American cinema.  I feel privileged to have seen it twice now, whereas most people will likely never even have access to it due to its limited release.  Beginners reminds us that it's OK to stop chasing tennis balls.  Go after the foxes instead.

5 out of 5 

Chernobyl Diaries - Review

Oh the originality!

It's never a good sign when a movie isn't released to critics for reviews prior to its opening.  That holds true for Chernobyl Diaries, which sets the bar staggeringly low for Summer 2012 horror.  Aside from the effectively creepy use of the Chernobyl site in Russia as a set piece, there isn't much worth mentioning here.  No time is devoted to character development, other than the oh-so-original character who's going to propose.  If you've ever seen a horror movie, you should know that's not going to go according to plan.  Yuri, the Russian "extreme tourism" guide, was entertaining and unfortunately wasn't featured in the film for very long.  However, Chernobyl Diaries suffers from a deplorable lack of scares that follow you home.  That's the real effectiveness of films like Paranormal Activity or The Strangers - they bring the horror into the viewer's home, rather than taking the viewer to a scary place.  While Chernobyl makes for a suitable haunted house, its scares are immediately forgettable.

1.5 out of 5