X2: X-Men United

Apes Pick: X2: X-Men United [Blu-ray]



Why we picked this film:  Well, we just watched X-Men.  Why not go with the 2nd installment in the series.

Beeps:  I really enjoy this film.  I think it's better than the first one in a lot of ways, but also falls behind in some other ways.  On the positive, the acting is sharp, especially by the great Brian Cox who plays William Stryker to absolute perfection, the script is tight, and the movie paces itself extremely well.  On the negative, I wish they would have fleshed out the whole Jean Grey/Phoenix story a bit more.  Well, at all really.  I mean we get 0 story about these powers of hers, and that's just a shame because it's an interesting part of X-Men lore.  Oh well, you can't win them all.  Still an absolute top tier movie and a must own.  5 Stars! 

Apes: Maybe I'm a nerd or I just really like Sci-fi, but this movie really does it for me. Assuming you've seen the first movie you already have a wealth of character background, but this movie doesn't rest on its laurels... It gives you more in depth looks into the existing characters and introduces some new characters. To me the movie felt action packed, but fortunately not in a way that lacked story or plot. I still want to know more about Jean Grey, but even if the future movies don't fill me in it is still a great film. I give it 5 stars and am greatly anticipating the rest of the series.

Overall we give this film 5 stars!

~Beeps and Apes

X-Men

Apes Pick:X-Men [Blu-ray]




Why we picked this film: I like the X-men movies - or well I remember liking them so I figured it was time to watch them again! Plus I haven't seen First Class or Origins yet, so I figured this would give me a nice refresher course.

Beeps:  In a word?  Awesome.  It'd been a really long time since I watched this, and I'm happy to report that this film has lost absolutely nothing in the 10+ years since it's release.  I've seen a lot of X-Men movies throughout the years, and I kept getting scenes from other movies confused with what transpires during this film.  That being said, this is a great introduction to the series and is a must see for anyone who's a fan of action movies.  In today's environment, movie adaptations from comic books are a dime a dozen, and they are that way because movies like this one paved the way.  Fantastic film, I'm so glad it's in my Blu-Ray collection.  5 Stars!

Apes: Let me start by saying thank God the series doesn't end here. If I knew this was all there was to watch I would be disappointed and angry, but not because this movie lacked anything. Actually, just the opposite, because this movie had just about everything that I love and want in a movie, but mostly it left me wanting more. The characters are developed just enough in this movie, but I want more, and in the back of my head I get excited because I know there is more to come. The main characters rock my socks - except for Cyclops because he is just not manly enough for me; especially, when standing next to Wolverine. (Swoon) This hour and a half flies by super fast, full of action, with enough wit and humor to make it fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this flick and look forward to the rest of the series - 4 stars.

Overall we give this film 4 1/2 stars

~Beeps and Apes

American Psycho

Beeps Pick: American Psycho



Why we picked this film: We each randomly picked a blu ray from the GIANT Christmas stack. This is beeps pick.

Beeps:  I like this movie.  I glanced over at Apes a few times during it and I'm very sure that this is going to be something that we don't see eye to eye on.  Now what do I like about this movie?  I like the fact that we watch someone's sanity start to slip.  In the opening scene we're left with a perfectly normal yuppie man who goes about his daily business, and slowly we see him break psychotically.  What seems to drive him is a need to be recognized, to be known, and I imagine that when you're in such a cutthroat environment it would be difficult to be recognized as "the guy."  What I find intriguing about how the movie begins to play out is that we see this pattern manifest itself over and over again.  Our main character struggles to find his identity, and his acquaintances also struggle to find his identity.  One of the other big draws for me is the ambiguity of the story itself, I don't want to spoil too much, but lets just say that the end of the movie is completely left open to interpretation.  I like a movie that has its subtleties, and I like monologues, therefore I like this film.  3 Stars!

Apes:  Why would anyone watch this movie - at least I have an excuse because it was forced upon me. I'd rather watch porn followed by a slasher film than watch this. This movie is LONG, SLOW, and BORING! It takes monologue to a whole new level. So the film goes a bit like this - I'm a rich snob, monologue, kill someone, rich, snob, monologue while killing someone, monologue.... I'm sure beeps will RAVE about the cinematography, but a shit movie with a shit script and mostly shit acting even with interesting cinematography is still shit! Save your self 2 hours and a headache by watching porn and slasher movies.... or heck just watch a snuff film. Unlike past movies that I didn't enjoy or even hated there where at least some redeeming features a funny moment, good acting, an interesting idea.... but this movie has none.... so I give it 0 Stars!

Overall we give this film 2 Stars!

~Beeps and Apes

Mission Impossible 3

Apes Pick: Mission Impossible III [Blu-ray]



Why we picked this film:  Well, we bought the trilogy on sale as part of our blu-ray bonanza.  It came with movie cash to go see Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and well we felt it was necessary to complete the trilogy before heading out to theaters to see number 4.

Beeps:  This movie starts in media res, or in the middle of things, giving us a taste of the ending, and then snapping us back to the beginning.  I am a huge fan of this technique, which J.J. Abrams uses brilliantly here.  After a scathing review of the previous incarnation of the series, I'm pleased to say this one is a much better movie.  My complaints about the other one have all been answered.  Tom Cruise leaves his feet to perform a crazy Kung Fu move exactly 0 times.  The use of masks and voice changing software is kept to a minimum, and it works.  It all just works.  Phillip Seymour Hoffman excels as the villain in this film.  I'm not just saying that because he's one of my favorite actors.  He plays a truly evil person, with a sort of absolutism about everything that he does.  A calmness about the situations that he is placed in that makes you believe the atrocities that the man is capable of.  Well done. As for the film itself, the pacing just feels a bit labored, the movie checks in at just over 2 hours but at 70 minutes in, I felt as if I had already gone through 2 hours.  I was seriously worn out.  I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, but I'm leaning to the negative.  I like a movie that you look at the clock and say, "Oh man I've been watching this for how long?  It feels like 5 minutes."  A few things bothered me about the plot, the most glaring being this.  You have millions of dollars worth of high tech equipment and yet you have a cell phone that can't get a signal in one of the world's most populated cities?  Seriously?  Anyway, my silly complaints aside, this film is rock solid.  4 Stars!  

Apes: So here we are with the third installment. I have to say this one is a LOT better than the second one, but how the heck did we go from womanizer, sleeping with a thief  to in a stable committed relationship and getting married? This bugs me. My personal issues aside This movie is much more fast pace, but still seems long. Tom Cruise's performance was adequate, but a little one dimensional. I know, I know, its an action flick how much character depth can I expect. After watching these movies back to back they lose something. I realize that I don't care. He saves the world from bad, greedy, and corrupt people sure, but not in realistic ways... and the Impossible Mission Force? Really that's the best name we can get? If Their missions are so Impossible how does he ALWAYS succeed and why did they act so surprised when the girl at the beginning failed? I say they rename it the Improbable Mission Force. Maybe I'm a bit Jaded, and I DO want to see the new one, but some how these movies I remember being EPIC have lost so much over time. If you're in the mood for a brainless action flick have at it. If you intend on being the LEAST bit logical... Skip this one. I give it 3 stars for being well done as a brain dead meat head flick, but nothing more.

Overall we give this film 3 1/2 stars.

~Beeps and Apes

Mission Impossible 2

Beeps Pick:  Mission Impossible II



Why we picked this film: We watched the first one so we might as well finish them all. Plus I really want to go see the new one in the theater.

Beeps:  Man, this film is almost too John Woo for being a John Woo directed film.  This film reeks of his stink all over it.  Here are some of my problems.  1.  Apparently after the events in the first film, Tom Cruise went to the Jackie Chan school of fighting.  I've never seen anyone leave their feet so many times during a fight.  It's almost to the point that it's ludicrous.  There is so much wire work and flipping kicks that it really brings things down.  If there was maybe one or two flip kicks I'd be cool with it, but there's about 15, and well I don't want to see Tom Cruise do that because it just feels cheap.  2.  Slow motion.  Holy crap, I like slow motion for some action scenes, but it does not have to be in every action scene multiple times.  I bet this film would be 20 minutes shorter if they ran everything at full speed.  3.  Overuse of masked characters... Okay it was cool when we got to see it in the first one.  I felt like it was a crutch here.  It was pretty easy to spot when someone was not who they were pretending to be, and that's unfortunate because it makes the film fall victim to predictability.  All of the negatives aside, this is a decent popcorn flick.  Turn your mind off and enjoy the ride.  However, not even the absolutely radiant Thandie Newton can elevate this movie to the status of the first.  2 1/2 Stars!

Apes: I'm not sure what to say. I almost fell a sleep during this one. Its a lot slower (and full of slow motion), less interesting, and more of a love story than an action flick. The first 45 min to an hour are slow and dragging. Then the last 30 to 45 min are so action filled its a bit over the top. I'm not a huge fan of the fight scenes in this, they have too much slow motion. This movie felt like they were going for more of a James Bond feel with the love story and romance instead of the kicking ass and taking names feel of the first one. I was not a huge fan of this one, but I'm sure we will keep it because you have to have the full series right? I give it 2 stars - for good acting and a decent story. (Oh and bonus points for Tom Cruise rockin' the Bieber hair before the Bieber hair was cool)

Overall we give this film 2 1/2 Stars!

~Beeps and Apes

Mission Impossible

Apes Pick: Mission Impossible



Why we picked this film: We opened all of our Christmas blu-rays and I figured we should watch one... Especially since this one had a free ticket inside to see the new Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Beeps: I've seen Mission Impossible probably 3 or 4 times now, and I'm happy to report that the film holds up somewhat well.  My biggest gripe is the way technology is portrayed in the film.  My personal favorite is when the main character does a search for "Job" and gets no matches found.  Try that and get back to me.  I also like the fact he sends e-mails to an address without a .com or .net or dot anything.  My complaints with the tech aside, I really like the film.  They do a great job of making this film Mission Impossible and not Mission Improbable.  There are some really epic special effect scenes in this movie that do stand well against the test of time.  The ending and the assault on the mainframe are two of my all time favorite action movie scenes.  Again, the impossibility of what must be overcome makes the movie what it is, and it is a delightful popcorn movie that requires you to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the show.  4 Stars!

Apes: I've seen this one before maybe a couple of times, and I have to say its getting a bit dated.... I mean zip discs? 250 mega bytes - funny! Plus the cell phones are a little big and a few things here and there are funny, but for a 15 year old film, Mission Impossible still kicks a ton of butt! The special effects are pretty awesome (and a little over the top) the acting is great, the story is interesting, and if you haven't seen it before its definitely worth a watch. Its interesting, action filled, well written, impeccably acted, and a just great popcorn flick! I give it 4 stars for holding up well after all this time and still kicking butt!

Overall we give this film 4 Stars!

~Beeps and Apes

Bad Santa

Beeps Pick: Bad Santa



Why we picked this film:  It's Christmas time... The time of year for Christmas movies!  I hate Christmas movies, so I figured I'd go with this unconventional Christmas tale since Apes had never seen it.

Beeps:  I really enjoyed this flick.  I love the way that this movie is a complete and utter mockery of the holiday and everything that people find so wonderful about Christmas.  This is the tale of a mall santa and his elf who are a bit more than they appear to be.  Billy Bob Thornton absolutely kills as the santa who is drunk 95% of the time, rude to children, rude to parents, and is just awful in every single way.  There is something totally endearing about the spirit of the boy who idolizes Santa.  Even though the santa that he chooses to be completely smitten by is an utter assclown.  It totally makes me a bad person but I love this film!  4 Stars!

Apes: This movie crushed my spirit, killed my enthusiasm, and in all ways sucked the joy out of my evening. There were 2 or 3 mildly endearing moments and a chuckle or 2 throughout the movie, but other than that it was dry, dragging, and depressing. Maybe I'm just too much of an optimist, but just because your father was an ass hat doesn't give you the right to continue the family tradition. The story is meh and a bit predictable... how many cuss words and short jokes does one movie need? I'd never watch it again  and wouldn't recommend it to any one (except Hayner because I think he would like it - only because I hated it) I give it 1/2 star for the few chuckles and for Billy Bob's performance (but is playing a dirt bag really much of a stretch for him?)

Overall we give this film 2 1/2 Stars.

~Beeps and Apes

The Chronicles of Riddick

Apes Pick: The Chronicles of Riddick





Why we picked this film: We worked together using the process of elimination to pick this film.

Beeps:  Oh...my poor head.  I think this film gave me vertigo.  The action scenes are enough to send me into an epileptic fit.  If I can put that aside, what I'm left with is a film that is the story of a convict, who is my #2 greatest character ever. (A distant second to Hannibal Lecter, M.D.)  Vin Diesel shines here as Riddick who is a certifiable bad ass in virtually every moment that he's on screen.  The film is light on story and character development, and although I've seen Pitch Black several times, we don't really know who Riddick is.  You get a piece of his backstory here, but it's only a morsel, and you're left wanting more.  I honestly believe that after Pitch Black came out and people saw just how chilling and fascinating the character Riddick was, they had to have more.  So writer/directer David Twohy basically created a world around him.  I have no clue if that's true, but it seems to make sense, especially since they renamed the first film to The Chronicles of Riddick: Pitch Black.  Of course following that logic this would be The Chronicles of Riddick: The Chronicles of Riddick... Oh dear god, and I thought the action scenes were what gave me the vertigo!  Go watch this now, if not for the fantastic world/effects, then for the character Riddick, a savage, heartless, animalistic killer, who somehow finds his way into your heart.  3 1/2 Stars!

Apes: I think I like the idea of this film more than the actual film. The action is too jumpy and flashy for me and that makes it hard to watch. I love Vin Diesel in this role. He comes across rugged, strong, tough, and that voice... oh that voice... yummy! Other than that the film feels like it's missing HUGE chunks of the story line. This feels like the 3rd movie in an epic trilogy, but with those first two missing this feels odd and out of place. Sure there is Pitch Black, but that doesn't really tell you much about anything either. There is enough information to fill in the story a bit, but not enough to make you feel connected. I need a little more back story on Fury and on the characters... I mean why is he a convict? What did he do - other than kick ass and take names- he comes across so lovable, but hardcore. Who are all these people... This flick is all flash and pop, but where is the meat? Its like a one night stand... enjoyable, but so meaningless. Its well worth a watch, but because it left me wanting (and wanting more than just Vin Diesel) I give it 2 1/2 stars.

Overall we give this film 3 Stars.

~Beeps and Apes

Serial Mom

Beeps Pick: Serial Mom




Why we picked this film: I was in the mood to laugh and remembered this being really funny.

Beeps:  "I Love this movie, you're gonna love this..." -Beeps (as I'm loading the DVD)...  "This movie sucks..." -Beeps (After watching it again).  I totally would have been cool shutting this off during the screening.  Odd, I remember it being so darkly funny the last time.  I guess movies that seem cool when your 12 lose their luster when your 30... Imagine that!  Anyway, the movie is a triple-U, Unfunny, Uninspired, and Unwatchable. 1 Star.

Apes: Wow oh wow! I haven't seen a movie this bad in ages! Beeps picked this because he wanted to laugh. I didn't laugh once, and he might have chuckled. The movie is definitely not for kids with random bouts of unnecessary profanity, porn, and gore. However, this movie isn't really for adults either. The story is sub par at best. A Leave it to Beaver Stepford Wives type mother who has a few screws loose goes nuts and kills people in weird ways. Ricki Lake is extra annoying, Shaggy is just like every other 80's movie stereotypical son is supposed to be, and the dad is well, awkward. I didn't feel anything for this movie other than boredom. Had this not been for posterity the blog I would have bitched until Beeps relented and turned this off. I give it 1 star for having a story idea that could have been interesting, but other than that it was lame, boring, and predictable!

Overall we give this film 1 star.

~Beeps and Apes

300

Apes Pick: 300



Why we picked this film: I let Beeps set up his surround sound system (an early birthday present) and we NEEDED to test it out using one of our new Blu-Rays... So I figured this was one of the best movies we owned to test this beast out!

Beeps:  Ah 300.  What's there not to love?  A bearded Spartan maniac king leading his people to battle outnumbered 300 to 1,000,000+  That's the makings of an epic, but there's something lacking here.  We're thrust into the heart of the story with only a glossing over of the Spartans, and young Leonidas.  I'd have liked to seen more character development, so that I can become invested in the fates of these men.  I will say that the film is extremely stylized, and that particular style doesn't do it 100% for me.  It's alright, but it leaves the video quality a bit grainy.  Would the movie still have the same charm that it does if it were filmed like Gladiator?  It probably would, and so I think the style detracts overall from the movie itself.  The story is solid, and the acting is fine, unfortunately the character development is lacking and so it doesn't have an overall epic feel to me.  The action scenes are very good, and most often shown in slow motion for emphasis on the beauty of the Spartan war machine.  I enjoy the film very much, and it is a great popcorn flick, and definitely worth purchasing.  4 Stars!

Apes: This is probably the 3rd or 4th time I've seen this movie, and it is still truly amazing. The way it is filmed, scripted, and edited is nothing short of art. The movie is violent and graphic, but comes across as artistic and beautiful. The way the battle scenes are shot in almost a sepia hue with the only real color being the crimson of the Spartan colors and blood make what could be gruesome much more palatable. The fight scenes look like epic ball room dances. Every time I watch this I am moved by the beauty, the simplicity, the effortlessness, and the whole experience. Every part of this movie is well done. The cast, script, music, choreography, and editing are perfect. I give this movie 5 stars for not only being bad ass, but for being epicly moving and beautiful. (but don't forget bad ass!) I can see this staying in my collection for a very, very long time.

Overall we give this film 4 and 1/2 stars!

~Beeps and Apes

Private Parts

Beeps Pick: Private Parts

Why we picked this film: I was in the mood for a comedy and quite frankly "vampired out" so I went for something I've been trying to get Apes to watch for ages.

Beeps:  Oh man, I haven't seen this film in ages.  Good stuff to be had right here.  I really enjoy this film, and it's not as dirty as you would believe, given the subject matter.  Anyway, it's basically a biographical account of the life of radio personality Howard Stern, up through 1985 or so.  I remember when the book for this came out, it got so much press as Stern proclaimed himself the King of All Media.  That title is a bit overreaching, but nonetheless the film is completely entertaining.  There isn't really a slow part, or even a plot really for the film.  I didn't feel like it followed your conventional film format.  It's almost as if the film says to you here's what I am, I'm telling you this story, so sit there and watch it.  It works, and it works well.  The film is funny and paced very well.  I certainly didn't look at my watch to see how much longer I had to go to get through it.    I don't consider myself a Howard Stern fan, I think he's an interesting person, but I haven't really followed him or his show, but I would love to see a sequel to this to bring us up to present day.  Long Live The King!!! 3 and 1/2 Stars!

Apes: Beeps has seriously been trying to get me to watch this one since we got married, and I had ABSOLUTELY no interest. I'm not sure why I refused this one so long; maybe I'm just a little young to remember the Stern Revolution or maybe I was put off by the stigma surrounding him. I've never listened to Howard Stern on the radio and still have no desire to, but I'm glad I watched the movie. The semi documentary feel was nice and the way it was mixed in with the movie and acting bits worked really well. I enjoyed learning more about the radio biz and about a very miss understood radio personality. For a movie titled Private Parts there really aren't many in the movie. A boob shot here and there and a lady swallows a 13 in kielbasi, but who doesn't want to see that ;). I found the movie funny, entertaining, and a tad enlightening (you know the kielbasi bit - just kidding). I'm glad I've seen it, but I won't seek it out again. I give it 2 1/2 stars for being interesting, moving at a good speed, clearing up my misconceptions, and being less dirty than I imagined it would be.

Overall we give this film 3 Stars

~Beeps and Apes

Queen of the Damned

Apes Pick: Queen of the Damned



Why we picked this film: Since we watched Interview with a Vampire last time I figured we aught to go in order and finish this one up as well!

Beeps:  Queen of the Damned... I'm pretty sure I would have rated this much higher if this were my first time seeing it.  I really remember enjoying it.  The fourth-ish viewing... not so much.  I watched this with a much more critical eye since I was reviewing it for the site.  I'm not going to rant and rave about it, but it's worth noting that you can not go into this film expecting it to be similar, or even the character Lestat to be similar between the two movies.  It's best to watch this film as a different movie entirely and pretend that you never saw Interview.  With that out of the way, let's go on to the film itself.  The best thing about this movie is the performance of the late Aaliyah.  She is absolutely chilling as Akasha, but she really doesn't have to speak to do it, she's just... mesmerizing.  I own the soundtrack to this film, and I like the versions of the songs on the soundtrack a bit more, but the sound is definately a high point.  Johnathan Davis of Korn provides the singing for rockstar Lestat in the film, and bonus points to you if you caught his cameo.  The worst thing about the movie is well, the story.  Ouch, that's pretty much a deathblow in my opinion.  Queen of the damned in 10 seconds or less... And Go. So a vampire becomes a famous rock star, other vampires get pissed that he's in the open, but because he's in the open he attracts a fan, the original vampire.  She's got bloodlust, and that doesn't sit well with some other old vampires that you never get introduced to... and there's the movie.  Sadly, I'm not making this up, they really don't give you much story at all.  Something about the film attracts me to it every few years, but I think after this viewing, the next time I get the feeling to watch it, I may just leave it on the shelf...  2 Stars.

Apes: After watching this I'm pretty sure I had never seen it before, or at least not in its entirety. I definitely stayed engaged by this more than interview with a vampire, but a HUGE part of that was that this was new to me. Plus the music is way better. The lead male is meh... I don't want him to bite me, but I see how they were trying to at least make him look like Tom Cruise. The story is interesting, but it feels like huge chunks are missing. Who are these other people in the story, are they necessary, and could we have made this film work with out them?  Was it a love story? I mean a little, but that felt like an after thought. I say if you haven't seen it go for it. It is enjoyable, interesting, and dramatic (I haven't seen that much crushed velvet since I was back stage at a high school play!). However, I have a sneaking suspicion that this film would lose a LOT in a second viewing, (but it did make me want to read the books.) I give it 2 1/2 stars for being entertaining and interesting, but leaving me confused about the "extra" characters.

Overall we give this film 2 1/2 stars.

~Beeps and Apes

Interview with a Vampire

Beeps Pick: Interview With A Vampire




Why we picked this film: Apes wanted to watch Queen of the Damned so I figured it would be best if we watched this first. We've both seen this before, but its been AGES!

Beeps:  Oh Louie... Never at any time in my film watching life have I ever seen a main character that is such a tortured soul.  I enjoy the first hour or so of this film, Tom Cruise is effective as the maniacal Lestat, but once he exits from the story, the film begins to take a nose dive.  I find myself caring less about the characters as the movie progresses.  I mean if our tortured protagonist doesn't give a shit, then why should I?  I'd recommend this movie if you've never seen it, it is dark and brooding, and while it does show it's age, (the quality on this DVD is utter shit) it is still a good film, once.  However after multiple viewings it just sputters out too hard at the end to be called a classic.  2 and 1/2 stars!


Apes: I still really enjoyed this movie. It is a bit dark and melodramatic, but it some how oddly works for this movie. I enjoy the character development, the anguish and emotion, and the overall feel of the film. I hope this cleans up a bit on Blu Ray because I found the picture quality on dvd less than awesome, but then again it does add to the whole feel of the flick. I think this is definitely worth a watch! Its not scary, its well written, well acted, and an enjoyable story! I give it 3 stars.


Overall we give this film 3 stars.

~Beeps and Apes

Castle In The Sky

Apes Pick: Castle in the Sky



Why I Picked this Movie: So Beeps broke me into the anime world with Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and from that point on I've been trying to get him to watch more anime with me. Especially the Studio Ghibli films. So I checked this one out from the local library and forced him to watch it! :)

Beeps:  I like this film.  Maybe it's the goofy way that James Van Der Beek sounds as the main character, but he sounds as if he was the right choice for the role.  I know that anime elitists are rolling their eyes right now... I can hear them saying to themselves, "I can't believe you didn't watch the film in its native language..."  Well believe it dorks.  The movie is a good mix in that it has some elements that are quite cute and some elements that are very exciting.  The typical Miyazaki film follows one of the two paths, but this one treads a line between them both and it really works for me.  4 Stars!

Apes: I don't think this is my favorite anime this far, but I did really enjoy it. I mean whats not to love about flying pirates, escaping the government, magical powers, and finding a mythical floating city? Actually now that I list all that out maybe it is my favorite anime. The characters are great! Some are always sweet and lovable while others are a bit rough around the edges, but they too some how grow on you. Most of the studio Ghibli films this is a coming of age story with love, adventure, and danger all while a young girl finds out about her families past and her heritage. I give this movie 4 stars for animation, character development, story line, adventure, and most importantly flying PIRATES! :)

Overall we give this movie 4 Stars

~Beeps and Apes

Young Sherlock Holmes

Beeps Pick: Young Sherlock Holmes



Why we picked this film: We are cleaning out our DVD collection to make space for the TON of Blu-rays Beeps is getting for Christmas (or that we got on great sales earlier this year). As a part of that any DVDs that we have wanted to watch, but don't really want to keep forever we are watching and then selling or trading in on Amazon.

Beeps:  I can't remember where or when I first saw this flick, it was somewhere in my early to mid teens and I think it was network television.  That would have made this an already somewhat dated picture as it was originally released in 1985.  The production company is quick to put Steven Spielberg presents on the outside of the clamshell and that is probably all he had to do with this film.  It's certainly not a masterpiece, but has a decent story, albeit somewhat predictable and full of movie cliches.  I couldn't help but draw parallels between this and Harry Potter films, so I was not surprised to see this was written by Chris Columbus, who would later go on to direct the first 2 Potter films.  The movie is an interesting blend of two worlds, combining Egypt and Victorian England, this oddly works for me, though it is thoroughly unbelievable.  Apes and I debated whether or not the film was geared towards kids, and we never really came up with an answer.  Some scenes, I'd be wary of showing a 10 year old, while I feel anyone older than that would be able to see through the story and pick apart the movie.  All of the negative feelings about the story being predictable and full of movie cliches can't fully crush the spirit of this thing though, as it does endear itself to your heart.  2 and a Half Stars!

Apes: I like Sherlock Holmes well enough, and I liked the idea of seeing some of the back story. I went into this knowing full well this movie was made in the mid 80's and not to expect too much in the way of amazing special effects, but I've got to say they weren't nearly as bad as I had imagined. The story while cute was predictable. I normally avoid mysteries because I always figure them out before the end, and it was no different with this one. I knew who was guilty, who would die, and how things would pan out well before they happened in the movie. That being said it is a cute kids movie for kids over 10 who love Sherlock Holmes or vintage clothes and pipes. There is a bit of scary hallucinations in the middle so if your kid is prone to nightmares... avoid this movie, but as an adult (who is prone to nightmares :P ) I was fine with this flick and give it 3 stars for being cute, well written, and interesting. It kept my attention the whole film which can be rare these days.

Overall we give this film 3 Stars!

~Beeps and Apes

Worlds Worst Bloggers!!

Okay, okay I know we are officially the worlds WORST bloggers!! We make grand plans and schemes and normally fail miserably! However, I think that is because we set our sights WAY to high and then life gets crazy and in the way!

But I promise we will do better in 2012!

We've got big plans for 2012 and we PROMISE to keep them do our best to keep them!

We probably won't review much the rest of this year as the holidays approach and beeps is testing Star Wars The Force Unleashed (and counting down the days until its release)

~ Beeps and Apes

Food Inc.

Beeps Pick: Food Inc.



Why I picked this film: I love a good documentary, and I know that Apes would be interested in it.  I'll let her talk about why she was interested in seeing this film.  I'm (Apes) a big supporter of buying locally - not because imports are bad, but because I like to support small business owners and people who live in my community - This goes for veggies at the farmers market (when I make it), local restaurants instead of huge chains, and beef from a local farmer. Plus I like knowing that my money is helping a family I know instead of making millionaires richer.

Beeps:  A solid documentary, the producers do a good job of getting their point across without showing you stomach turning images.  If you're expecting to see animal slaughterings, there's not really much of that.  A few scenes of prepping for slaughter, and a farmer taking care of a chicken in the background while another farmer talks about the issue.  After watching this, I am very happy to say that most of the beef we eat at home comes from a local farmer, and so I feel much more at ease.  It's easy to turn away from this documentary, I mean no one really wants someone to tell them that there is a problem with what they're eating.  So it's easy to just not bother with this film, and that would be a shame because there is some good information here, and it's presented quite well.  3 and a half stars!

Apes: Wow - Some of this I already knew - I won't call it revolutionary, mind blowing, or even a surprise; yet still some how I am shocked - I know I shouldn't be, but I am. Maybe I'm young and naive, or maybe I just want to believe the best in people. I can't believe the way food (both meat and veg) is grown, processed, packaged, sold, overseen, lobbied for, and protected in this country. Its just DISGUSTING and honestly sad. For a little over a year we've been buying our beef from a local farmer and picking it up at a local butcher - not because we were being "green" or "natural" but because it was cheaper and tastes AMAZING! Now all I can say is THANK GOD! The part that bothered me the most is a meat filler that is sold that they clean in AMMONIA to kill the E. COLI! - Granted e. coli is BAD - deadly even, but is ammonia really the BEST answer? GROSS!! I highly recommend this film not for its entertainment value, its high quality graphics, or amazing script, but because I do truly believe it is our duty to be informed and maybe for you (and maybe me) this is the first step! - I'm looking into some better options for foods for Beeps and I - Maybe you will too! I give it 4 stars for being well put together, informative, and having my new all time favorite farmer in it! (and maybe for making me a bit misty eyed at the end)

Overall we give this film 4 stars!

~Beeps and Apes

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Random Pick: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back



Why we picked this film:  We were left at the hands of movie bingo!

Beeps:  I like this film, just as much, if not more than episode 4.  It's a great continuation of the epic story.  This one has one of the single greatest film shocker moments for anyone who has not seen it.  As for the movie itself, it's very similar to episode 4, (Yes, Luke is still annoying and whiny).  We get introduced to Yoda, as well as the Emperor in this episode.  I feel so odd reviewing these films individually as it's such a wide sweeping story, but nonetheless this film is fantastic, if you've not seen it, what are you waiting for???  4 Stars!

Apes: This is not my favorite movie... Yeah you get to meet my favorite character in this one and there is a really good surprise. I don't know why I'm just not as into this film as I am the others... MEH I give it 3 stars because it is still GOOD and because you have to watch it for the series to make sense.

Overall we give this film 3 1/2 stars

~Beeps and Apes

Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope

Random Pick: Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope




Why we picked this film: We are making an attempt to watch all of Blockbuster 100 most loved movies through the crazy use of my Random Movie BINGO! We landed on D2 so we've begun the Star Wars Series in release order because that is the PROPER way to watch them! (And should we ever have crotch fruit the way we will make our children watch them)

Beeps:  Hooray for random movie bingo.  It's only fitting that the single greatest science fiction epic, be selected for us on our first attempt.  This film really did stand up well to the test of time.  A few minor annoyances aside, (God, does Luke have to be so whiny?)  this movie is the quintessential science fiction film.  It has everything that you'd want in an epic, and it is just as awesome now as it was back then.  It's interesting, but this may be the first time I've ever been speechless in a review, I mean c'mon it's Star Wars... everyone should watch it at least once.  The hardcore nerds among us, have probably seen it 10 times or more. (present company included)  If you haven't seen this film, stop what you are doing, and invest the time.  4 Stars!

Apes: It truly has been FOREVER since I had seen this, and it remains as much a classic today as it was when I first saw it. I love how the story is just as EPIC in subsequent viewings. The characters develop strong, the plot is easy to follow, and the acting is great for the time period and not to bad for modern day. Even the special effects aren't terrible 30 years later. I really, really enjoyed watching this again. I give it 4 stars for being a classic and holding up to the test of time!

Overall we give this film 4 stars

~Beeps and Apes

Tron: Legacy

Apes Pick: Tron: Legacy



Why I picked this film: We watched the original and well, I wasn't a fan, but I wanted to see what 30 years of special effects development could do for a movie.

Beeps:  Hmmm...  Not too shabby.  I really enjoyed this.  I'd consider it a relatively mindless romp through a neon future world, although technically I suppose it's inside of a computer system.  It lacks an epic feel to it, but still is totally successful as a popcorn flick.  I don't know if I'd necessarily yearn to see it again, but it's definitely worth a watch.  Even if you absolutely hated the first movie.  Bonus points for the smokin' hot Olivia Wilde.  Yowsers!  3 Stars!

Apes: This is WAY better than the first one, but still manages to pay homage to the original with out sacrificing its own style and special effects. This was definitely a special effects over load kind of film. Still way too much neon, but much more enjoyable. Don't expect life changing, mind boggling, creativity, but if you just want to kick you heals up and vedge out this a good film. I give it 3 stars.

Overall we give this film 3 stars!

~Beeps and Apes