Movie Reviews (6/8-14)

OK, I have decided to use this blog to give a few movie reviews from time to time. This weekend I saw both movies being released. On Friday, I saw "The Happening" and Saturday, I saw "The Incredible Hulk."



"THE HAPPENING"










** out of ***** (stars)

I will begin this review by stating for the record that I am a sucker for "disaster" flicks. Any movie where the world is in peril is a fun movie to me. That being said, this movie was an OK "disaster" flick, but I cannot recommend it to anyone. I don't like stating "spoilers" so I won't tell you what the main cause of "The Happening" was except to say I have not seen this scenario put on film before. An unknown & unseen air virus is making people kill themselves in all sorts of gruesome manners. It was ridiculous, but then again, so is the cause of most "disaster" movies. What I didn't like in this film was the complete lack of acting talent displayed by every single person in the cast. Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel & John Leguizamo were all pretty bad in this movie. It was a genuine case of extreme "overacting" by all involved. I read elsewhere that someone described Zooey Deschanel's performance akin to someone who was just hit by a car & I totally agree on that call.
Mark Wahlberg spoke all his lines in this annoying soft & high pitched whine that began to make me root for the "Happening" to claim another victim before I offed myself instead. My final complaint lies with the director himself, M. Night Shyamalan. Like or hate his movies, his presence has always been felt behind the camera. In movies like "The Sixth Sense", "Signs" and even "Lady in the Water" I have always felt his unique presence all over the film. "The Happening" has none of his presence in it at all. I hope that whatever has happened to him, he can rebound from it and once again make a film that has the originality of what I once expected from him.



"THE INCREDIBLE HULK"










**** out of ***** (stars)

I was one of those millions of people who saw Ang Lee's version ("Hulk") that came out 5 years ago and was disappointed by it. That movie looked like a comic book, but took itself WAY too seriously and was a action-free letdown. I am happy to say that this "Incredible Hulk" is everything the previous film lacked. It was a good, fun, action-fueled flick. I liked Edward Norton & Liv Tyler & thought they did a good job bring their characters to life.


The plot was a pretty simple one, but actually allowed some time for a little character development from time to time. I am not a comic book man, so I am sure there were "shout-outs" to the fans that I probably missed. I did like the references to the TV show that was thrown in there from time to time. The visual effects were fine & I think this "Hulk" looked more realistic (granted - how "real" can something called "The Hulk" look anyways?) than the previous incarnation. One thing I am sick of though, is Stan Lee's obligatory cameo appearance in all his movies. That cameo takes me right out of the movie and those bits need to stop! Overall, there wasn't a lot to complain about here. After liking "Iron-Man" and now "The Incredible Hulk" I am looking forward with great interest to the next Marvel Comics superhero that makes it to the big screen. One thing is for certain - it will have a lot to live up to.