Rated PG-13 – “I Am legend” (starring Will Smith) is about a scientist/military officer named Robert Neville, who is the lone survivor of a virus that has wiped out all of humanity.

This is a remake of the 1971 classic “The Omega Man”, which stars Charlton Heston.

As a scientist, Dr. Robert Neville (Smith) struggles to find a cure for a “virus” that has all but wiped out the human race. But as a military officer, Neville has to fight mutant, nocturnal, zombie-like creatures that the “virus” has left behind. These monsters are violent, empty shells of their former human selves that have physically and emotionally devolved over the last three years. They lack any and all humanity, and are unfortunate people that were not killed but changed by a rabies-like “virus” that steals away their “soul”, and replaces it with only rage and malcontent. They are over-aggressive, and physically stronger than any normal human. Their only real weaknesses are their lack of intelligence, and the sunlight, which severely burns them after only seconds of exposure, and forces them to be nocturnal.

Let me just start by saying that this really is a good movie, but there were, in my opinion, some pretty bothersome flaws too. For starters, there is no real back story to this movie.

In the beginning, you see Neville and his family rushing away from inner New York City with a large military entourage trying to escape obvious entrapment. In the very next scene , it is three years later and Neville and his dog are in a Ford Mustang driving through the abandoned streets of New York hunting for food. Throughout the entire film he has some relatively small flashbacks and dreams of what happened, but nothing that really tells us how the virus evolved, or if he was affiliated with it. I gathered after watching for a bit, that he was in some way connected to the virus, but only because he is so adamant about finding a cure and fixing everything(as if he was partially responsible for the outbreak). All we are really made aware of is that a female scientist discovers what is believed to be a cure for cancer, seemingly curing over 10,000 people by using some mutated strain of the measles. But apparently the initial tests turn horribly wrong, and go bad very quickly.

I just have a hard time with the fact that he never ventures outside of New York City to look for any other survivors. All he does is broadcast on A.M. radio frequencies on a daily basis to let any possible survivors know that he is still alive, and that he can provide food and shelter for any people still living. I would certainly think that someone who believes he is the last man on earth would want to at least search for any other possible survivors. After all, human beings are social creatures by nature. We need interaction from other humans to validate our own existence. Not being around anyone else for over three years would result in some serious emotional, and mental problems. Anyway, back on point.

Here is what I do like about this movie.

Will Smith delivers a good performance, and is pretty believable as this character. He also delivers his usual “star power”to the film. I like the special effects as well, they are not not top tier, but definitely not the worst I’ve seen either. It’s a fun movie to watch and delivers some pretty good theatrics and jump scenes. It’s a little bit predictable, but not too obvious at the same time. The best thing about it is maybe also the worst thing. The simple fact that we could possibly create something similar to this virus ourselves is quite scary. Though in the beginning, it is the apparent cure for cancer, with as much use of experimental procedures that we risk, who knows what we could possibly create? For that reason alone, it makes this movie a lot scarier than originally intended.

I thought this would be more of an action movie and less of a sci-fi flick than it was, but the action sequences that it does contain are very good, and keep you on the go, and the sci-fi aspect is also very good. Another good point to note on in this movie is that it is not really boring at any point, and keeps you interested for the most part. Other than the afore mentioned flaws, I was pretty entertained. This movie starts in chaos and ends in the ultimate sacrifice. Bearing in mind that remakes are usually no good, this one for the most part does deliver. I just hope they do not try some stupid attempt at a sequel or two. Leave it alone!
Overall I give it 3.5 out of 5.

Let me know what you think!

Later,

L.I.

Hello again idioteers!

So it’s been a few days since I have written anything, but I felt compelled to write about this movie!

“Hitman“(2007) Rated “R” – Is a fast paced, high octane action thriller starring Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, and Olga Kurylenko.

This movie is an adaptation of the immensely popular video game.

Timothy Olyphant plays a born and bred killer for hire named “Agent 47″, who is contracted to kill by an entity known only as “The Agency”. The main synopsis of the plot is that 47 has been hired by The Agency to assassinate the president of Russia. The only problem is, he has a renegade Interpol agent (Dougray Scott) who has been trying to catch him for three years, hot on his trail. Not to mention the imposing Russian military, and the president’s secret police (Russian FSB).

In a botched assassination attempt of the president, 47 realizes that he is being set up by The Agency, and soon discovers that he must take out anyone who poses a threat or stands in his way of finding out the truth. At the same time, he must deal with assassins that have been hired to kill him, and strange, yet stirring emotions that he feels for a beautiful woman (Olga Kurylenko) whom he was supposed to kill for The Agency.

The actors did, in my opinion, a pretty good job at portraying their respective characters. I have not played the video game much, but from what I have seen, character-wise, they have done a relatively good job. Timothy Olyphant is a bit more soft-spoken than his video game counter-part however, and tries to make himself a little meaner than I think he is capable of, but he does an adequate job none the less. Dougray Scott’s character is a bit too serious for the most part, but he does play an integral part of the story, and is not too much a mood damper. And Olga Kurylenko’s character is a bit more upbeat than she should be, considering she spends a good deal of time in the trunk of a car, and she constantly has people trying to kill her. But overall, I think the characters were portrayed rather well with what they were given.

This film bolsters intense action sequences, great fight scenes, and very good visual effects.

This is a very good movie for all of you action lovers, but keep in mind, there is a lot of bloodshed and violent imagery, so this may not be the greatest film for kids under 14 or so.

Overall I give this a 4 out of 5! Yes, I think it’s that good.

I highly recommend this movie if you like lots of action, and lots of guns!

Post your replies on this movie if you saw it. I wanna know what you thought about it, and what you would rate it.

Later on,

L.I.

Hello again everybody!

Ok, so today I would like to talk about any and all movies (good or bad) that you may have seen lately. And also, maybe some that I have seen as well.

Being that I am a LAZY IDIOT, means that I do not spend too much time at the movies. Mostly because it’s getting too expensive to see them in the theater, and because anymore you can pretty much buy them on DVD for the about the same price as two movie tickets. It’s highway robbery if you ask me. But I guess there is a sort of a special “feel” to a movie when seen in the the theater versus seen on a DVD. And hopefully, some of you have seen a few movies on either format recently that maybe you would like to comment on. Good or bad, I don’t care, I just want to hear your thoughts on what is out there to see.

The last one I actually saw in the theater was called “Vantage Point“(2008). Starring; Dennis Quaid, Forrest Whitaker, and William Hurt. It is a political thriller about the events surrounding the assassination of the president from 8 people’s point of view. It’s not too bad actually. It has a relatively progressive and thickening plot that tends to keep you involved for the most part. Basically, you get to see 8 different people’s reactions amidst the rather hectic and unclear events surrounding the assassination of the president at a peace convention in Spain. It is however, a little repetitive, and even maybe a little slow at times, but only because you have to see the events that take place several times throughout. I guess that is kind of the point of the whole movie though. The main thing that tends to break the monotony of the film is the fact that you do get to see the events that happen from 8 different points of view, instead of just the same one over and over again. Otherwise, a pretty good flick though. Definitely worth the watch.

Overall, I wold give it a 3 out of 5.

Other than “Vantage Point” , I have just seen a few that I rented on DVD recently.

The last one on DVD I saw was called “Beowulf “(2007) Rated (R) -  (Unrated edition also available). Starring; Ray Winstone, Alngelina Jolie, Crispin Glover, and Anthony Hopkins. This movie chronicles and depicts various parts of the age old story of Beowulf and Grendel. Somewhat of a David and Goliath theme really, but still a very likeable story even today. It is comprised of the best animation I have ever seen in a film, actually it’s groundbreaking if you ask me. I think it revolutionizes animated movies in a very similar fashion that “The Matrix” revolutionized action movies. The story line could have been a little better however. It had no real character development at all. You are just kind of thrown right in to the mix of madness and mayhem. One good omen is that it is relatively graphic (which I am actually a fan of), and is not at all sparing on the violence and even some occasional gore. probably not the greatest movie for kids however, even though it is animated. But after all is said and done, I still think this is a very watchable and entertaining film, it just needed to be a little more clear on who the characters are, and where they came from. Good movie though!

Overall, I would have to give it a 3.5 out of 5.

I will be posting more reviews some more movies that I have seen in the very near future, but I would sure like some feedback on any and all movies you may have seen. Please feel free to write about any movies, old or new. Plese share your thoughts my fellow IDIOTS.

See ya very, very soon,

L.I.