[Review] Pain & Gain (2013)

Title: Pain & Gain

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie 

Director: Michael Bay

Genre: Comedy, Action

Summary: A trio of bodybuilders in Florida get caught up in an extortion ring and a kidnapping scheme that goes terribly wrong. (IMDb)

Under the arms of director Michael Bay there wasn't many marketing strategies to promote this bad boy, not as much as Transformers and I don't know what it was but it looks to me like it worked. The fact that this wasn't a highly expected and huge movie franchise helped me not to get my hopes up when watching it therefore enjoying it a lot more too.

First let's start with synopsis, a guy, whose name gives the ultimate clue of his narcissism, Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) wants to excel in life and more than muscles he wants to have a lifestyle he can be proud of (or how he would put it "a big green lawn"). So he decides to create the ultimate strike, kidnap  some drug dealer and diner owner and extort every single one of his goods. Lugo starts with assembling a team, Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) and ex-con and addict who recently turned to religion and Adrian Doorbal  (Anthony Mackie) who needs money to fix his sterility problem. But, as it would be predictable everything goes wrong,  the perfect plan turns into perfect stupidity and it would be another boring movie about a failed success if it wasn't for the fact that it is a true story. That means it happened the way it was shown and I tell you: do not look for the story before watching the movie it will kill the excitement, for this is truly a point where real life meets fiction.

As for filmmaking the eccentric Michael Bay did it right, he extracted the funny and silliness in the story transforming what isn't suppose to be that funny into a satire of bodybuilders. You will see graphics throughout the movie and colors everywhere, it is indeed a colorful film. Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson both deliver, the first one plays the ideal conceited, "think-I-am-very-smart" man with a head full of ideas but failed figure,  the second one shows the weak link of the group in a way you've never seen before using the muscles to distract you from the character's compassion and vulnerability but yet ridiculous all the way. 

I illustrated this review with the Soundtrack cover because the motion picture does have some good background to go with it. The true story aspect to it is what makes the movie worthy to be honest, it makes you think 'how could human beings do this?' and then you laugh, I give most of the credits to the screenplay, really strong and not cliché.

As a final evaluation I'd say this movie is worth watching, don't pass it on because you didn't like Transformers or because you just haven't heard enough good things, the reviews are mixed and there's no "just liking" this movie, there's either "hate it" or "loved it" and to me the second one fits.

Stars: ★★★★

Categories: Action, Comedy

Skyfall

Summary: Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Director: 

Sam Mendes

Writers: 

Neal Purvis, Robert Wade

Stars:

Daniel Craig, Helen McCrory and Javier Bardem

Official Movie WebSite!

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

IMDb: 8.5 stars!

Bu's Review:

As usual when it's time for credits the studios do not spare on a James Bond typical musical elaborated credits. It's been 50 years and Bond movies adapt to what they have in terms of resources and special effects and I guess this time, throughout the movie, you do not see much of it even though they could have perfectly made some very complicated gadgets without making them look stupid, they did not. I guess it's all about the feeling now, the sarcasm and the story of the character. James Bond is no long just another cool spy but the writers (Neal Purvis, Robert Wade) were able to give this character an interesting background exploring everything they had on it without making the story just about that.

There was no special Bond girl and the love scenes are all very superficial. There are some interesting twists along the plot that make you sigh about the happened but I must say I am very surprise about Javier Bardem's performance, he grabbed a character that is supposedly a big criminal with a private island and he gave it a  context of suffer that felt sorry for...

On Daniel Craig, the feedback on either he was a good Bond was very criticized at first, but I guess that with "Skyfall" on your DVD shelf all those claims will fade. Of course it's always bad to see M leave but both the character and the actress needed a break, the truth is, if you think about it, while Mr. Bond is always in shape M grows older movie after movie and baring that in mind I guess it was a good decision for the next 50 years! "Skyfall" is a must see for all Bond fans and it leaves good memories behind, I wouldn't be surprised if it was among Bond's best five!

★★★★ - Bu Loved it!

Bubbly Trivia:

Categories: Action, Adventure

"Oz - The Final Take" Bu's Movie Blog Online Magazine!

Categories: Action, Oz- The Final Take

The Amazing Spider-Man

Summary: 

Peter Parker finds a clue that might help him understand why his parents disappeared when he was young. His path puts him on a collision course with Dr. Curt Connors, his father's former partner.

Bu's review:

This story is one of the most commented stories in all Hollywood ground, used and abused the plot is part of millions of people's fantasies. This movie is not about how a man became a spider or lizard, it explores much more than that. It explores relationships.  Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone delivered stunning performances and gave the audience the feeling of a wanted love which made the movie calm and reassuring. I thought I'd leave the room disappointed and hoping for more but it was completely the opposite, this is definitely the best spider-man so far. The characters were more involved and interesting than the original ones.

The Amazing Spider-man  leaves you glued to your chair and the surprises keep on coming. Many of the viewers rated it badly an I might know why is that. Most movies in 3D are not worth seeing in 3D, I saw this spider-man in 2D which gave me a better capacity to compare it with other movies from the super-hero. A film is only "3D worthy" when it brings that different essence to a character or a plot, like Vampire Hunter, which has a totally mixed concept, and that is when you know you should watch it in 3D. What happens with Spider-man is that people expected it to jump to your lap but guess what? THAT. IS. NOT. GOING. TO. HAPPEN. 

My final opinion? The director and screenwriters gave to this used plot a new different emotional concept that I applaud and respect. I am not saying it was perfect because it lacked on the music and the irreverent feel of a good villain, but it's a movie that works and that people will feel curious to see no matter what the reviewers say.

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★★

Categories: Action, Adventure, Movie News

Prometheus

Summary: 

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

Bu's review:

The plot is complex and it can be easily misunderstand it has an unexpected twist (which you will have to wait to see in case you haven’t seen this film) that approaches with one of Ridley’s classics that gives it a confused, although a great and nice touch.

·      All the characters follow the pattern of a typical thriller or sci-fi movie. Some are antagonists other patriots, some are the heroes and others the “helpers”. The main attention goes to Noomi Rapace’s Elizabeth Shaw, which seems to be a current type of protagonist in Scott’s alienist movies. She is brave but her personality is not reveled much, she is the survivor she needs to be.  The most curious character in the entire plot is David, you can’t really understand either if he is good or harmful to the Prometheus crew. The actors are young and very popular; Guy Pearce, Charlize Theron or even young Noomi seemed to have been the right choice for such a blockbuster.

·      The screenplay is quite predictable and very plane, in a movie like this you should expect profound dialogues that would almost make you enthusiastic and cry but this time the writers (specially Damon Lindelof ) didn’t excel their selves.

Powerful music and sound! Of course the special effects killed it (in a good way)! Very well done and amazing sets and landscapes. 

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★★

Categories: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Battleship

Summary: 
A fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.

Bu's review:

Battleship is just poor in every way. Both the humor, the action and (Oh my god this is the worst part) the screenplay. It's the typical story where he has the hot girl and then hey have to fight against some aliens but come on, don't you have more ideias (and better ones) to invest in??

This movie is just wrong and curiously the only part I really enjoyed was the burrito/prove of love scene. Anyway the actors were fine but still... It's one of those special effected blockbuster that know one really enjoyes but it's dubbed as cool.

I'll give 2 stars for the cinematography and photo effects work and because I think no movie is actually a flop unless it's really really bad. But for that you still need a bit of intelligence ;)

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★

Categories: Action, Science fiction

Avengers

Summary: 


Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.

Bu's review:

Someday The Avengers will be an action classic. The action in it is super intense and well "special effected", although at some point I was just wishing that the war ended I think it was all very nicely measured. It's hard for a director to put such beloved stories and characters into a movie that it might be badly received by the audience, but Marvel fans trust me this movie will live up to your expectation for sure.

The picture has something I cannot help to highlight and honor, HUMOR. The premieres are exclusively fun to watch because normally the room is filled with people that are actually fans of the movie so they laugh and react to it very... "loudly". Definitely the humor in this movie makes it stronger and more solid. An this is when I say: "Way to go Joss Whedon." Both the screenplay and directing were great. 

I am an unconditional fan of RDJ and Iron Man (uuhhhhh *.*) and so everything he does is truly exquisite! I mean the cast was perfect and it totally delivered it! Well, there was something that bothered me a little though, Samuel L. Jackson's character. The concept and the dressing/make up were fantastic but the performance was a bit tiring. Oh and Cobie Smulders as Hill... perfect!

What else can I say, just like the first two Iron Man I will watch this movie for more three, four, twenty times if necessary just to sate my Marvel's hunger :3

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★★★

Categories: Action

Gone

Summary: 

When her sister disappears, Jill is convinced the serial killer who kidnapped her two years ago has returned, and she sets out to once again face her abductor.

Bu's review:

 

The movie Gone has, what I like to call, a Bu's type script. That means this movie has a strong and very-easy-to-linke screenplay. I thought the only problem about it was the ending I just think it wasn't the powerful ending that I was expecting. Amanda Seyfried is a beautiful and perfect lead. Many people would say she just works in comedy and romance (let me tell you you are wrong) from "In Time" to "Red Riding Hood" this girl has surprised us all :)

The photography on this movie was excellent and it definitely sets the mood. It all works!

Year: 2012

Stars: ★★★★

Categories: Action, Thriller