DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Super High Me

Super High Me

Rated R

Running time: 1 hr 34 mins

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

* out of *****

Subject Matter:

Determined to find out the true effects of marijuana on the human body, stand-up comedian and former Stoner of the Year Doug Benson documents his experience avoiding pot for 30 days and then consuming massive amounts of the drug for 30 days. More than just an amusing story of one man's quest to get superhigh, this documentary also examines the hotly contested debate over medical marijuana use.

MY REVIEW

Super High Me is almost a spoof movie in itself. It essentially spoofs the critical hit, "Super Size Me" from a few years ago. However instead of a man going around getting fat and nearly killing himself off of McDonald's food, we have a man (comic Doug Benson) smoking pot non-stop. Well first he goes 30 full days without smoking any marijuana then goes 30 full days smoking pot all day. To those who chuckle from this premise, you may be a pot head, or once were one.

This movie is not interesting in the least. It really provides no actual insight into the world of drugs. Nothing we as a country didn't already know. Really this movie is an excuse for a man to smoke weed constantly on camera. Doug Benson is known as one of the top pot comics in the country. I'm sad there is such a list. I don't judge pot smokers for smoking pot, I just think when you are in your 30's and 40's and smoking weed is the best thing you can do for fun, you may not lead an amazing life.

To be an actual legit documentary, the movie brings us glimpses of insight into the medical marijuana life. We see clinics being shut down by the DEA even though it's technically legal in some states like California. However even these moments take a back seat to Doug Benson rattling off pot jokes and talking nonsense in front of the camera due to being high. He even goes to a doctor before and after and really learns that there is not much of a change from not smoking pot to smoking pot all the time. Almost as if it's an actual advertisement for pot.

Super High Me is really kind of a childish documentary in my eyes. I mean many people may actually enjoy a movie like this, especially the pot smokers of the world. To me smoking pot in this regard is not cool in my personal book. I've never smoked pot. I've never done a drug in my life. I've barely consumed alcohol. I personally have never been a fan of any of it. I don't like what it does to people. I don't like the fact that people have to drink or do drugs to actually feel emotions like happiness. That stuff should come naturally. But this is just MY opinion. I'm not saying I hate potheads and alcoholics. And I'm not saying other people won't like this movie. I just didn't, that's all.

To view this films trailer, click this link: Super High Me

*This is the 145th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.

Transsiberian

Transsiberian

Rated R

Running Time: 1 hr 51 mins

Cast:

Woody Harrelson

Emily Mortimer

Ben Kingsley

Kate Mara

Eduardo Noriega

Critical Consensus:

***1/2 out of *****
(92% Fresh Rating!)

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

***** out of *****


The Premise:

A Trans-Siberian train journey from China to Moscow becomes a thrilling chase of deception and murder when an American couple encounters a mysterious pair of fellow travelers.

MY REVIEW

Transsiberian is how a thriller should be done. This movie is near perfect in almost every way and is easily one of the best film's of 2008. Sadly it's just another one of those movies that no one really saw in theaters and that will carry on in it's DVD time. Sometimes I feel it's movies like this that should be the big summer blockbusters. Because these really are the highest class of film, but they don't have huge stars and big explosions to get an audience. Movies like this have real quality to them.

The movies first half is nothing but pure build up to something big and not so good. While watching it, you know something is going to happen, but you just can't predict what that will be. For me that made this film incredibly tense. I was expecting something awful to happen, but then it didn't. Then at the right moment, the movie completely unfolds. It's at this point where the story flips and goes in another direction and new characters are introduced. Characters that you as an audience don't really trust but the heroes of the story seem to. We have a murder, a drug ring and characters you really can't figure out. To me that's a brilliant formula for a tense thriller.

A lot of the times for a movie like this to work, it has to look amazing. This movie looks incredible. More than half of the film takes place aboard a train. The cinematography as the camera weaves through the halls and sleeping quarters, is really something great. The camera work adds on to the tense feelings you get while watching the story unfold. It's also full of dull colors just to add to the dark feeling of the film. Even when the characters are in the bright snow, the film making just has a way of creating that darkness. The director did an excellent job creating this world of thrills and suspense.

I was glad to see Woody Harrelson (Semi-Pro) here. He's just one of those guys you see in movies and TV that you always know is good but isn't all that recognized still. I thought he did such a great job in this film. You really love his character in the first half, and then in the second half he does such an amazing job at showcasing the fear and confusion that sets in with the story. I've never been a big fan of Emily Mortimer (Redbelt), she's never really proven herself as a dependable actress. But she temporarily changed my mind after this film. It was her that really carried this film performance wise. She was essentially the main character who has to go through so many feeling and emotions and I was honestly shocked at how well she did. Just based off what I've seen of her before. Really outstanding job. Of course Oscar winner Ben Kingsley (Ghandi, House of Sand and Fog) was awesome yet again. This time playing a mysterious Russian cop. When he's on his game, he's good. No difference here.

I highly recommend Transsiberian to everyone! It's such a tightly wound thrill ride, that will please fans of the genre. Is it wildly exciting? No not really. Are there many chases? Again, no. Explosions? None that I can remember. But not every good suspense thriller has to have those things. In fact, usually the good ones like this don't have those things. This movie certainly did not need any of that to prove itself as a brilliant film!

To view this films theatrical trailer, click this link: Transsiberian

*This is the 144th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.

S.R.M Presents!

Hey everyone! So I have a special little treat for you! About a month or so ago, my sister Kelly and I were visiting some family in California. My brother Shawn along with my sister Tricia and my sister-in-law Jenn and their friends Matt, Robert and Cathy have a myspace filmaker page called S.R.M. They film videos that range from 2 minutes to almost 7 minutes long. The videos are purely comedy, and a lot of the time pretty vulgar and/or a little extreme! And I love it! They have completed an entire first "season" of 15 videos, and will actually put them on a DVD for you if you ask, and may cost you a few bucks. They currently are working on their second "season" and already have three videos up as of this blog.

Well I mention this because I "starred" in two of these videos. One of them was a Ghost Hunters spoof which we called "Spook Searchers". Me along with my two sisters played members of PAPS and "investigated" a haunted apartment. When you watch the video you will notice we are a bit clueless, which was the fun of it! To those who don't like bad words or anything of the sort, you don't have to worry much about this video, theres only one bad word (D**khead) and that's it.

So the video is right down below for you viewing pleasure! Please let me know what you think of the video! I hope you enjoy it! Remember, it is only a spoof video, not to be taken seriously. And if you like what you see and you have a myspace page, please add S.R.M. to your friends list!

Click here to get to their page: SRM and again, please add them as a friend! Tell them Mike from Mikey @ The Movies sent ya!

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Heckler

Heckler

Rated R
Running Time: 1 hr 20 mins

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

**** out of *****

Subject Matter:

This offbeat documentary starring comedian Jamie Kennedy explores the often contentious relationship between the people onstage and the vocal critics in the audience who are more than willing to make their opinions known. Interviews with such stars as comedian Bill Maher, director George Lucas and football legend Mike Ditka make it clear that heckling can happen at any venue -- and that not even the biggest luminaries are immune.

MY REVIEW

A lot of this movie has to do with the overall unacceptance of Jamie Kennedy (Scream trilogy, Son of the Mask) and his film choices. Honestly, I've never seen his so called crap films, so I have no opinion. I think he's finally made his first good movie! This time in documentary form. You actually feel kind of bad for the guy, he's taken a lot of heat for his film's and stand up routine. I really have no issue with the guy.

The movie focuses on people in audiences who heckle and ridicule stand up comics. It also shows how some comedians think fast and retort. Most of the time it's something pretty vulgar and mean spirited. By no means is this film lighthearted. It's hits a harsh truth...that some people are just jerks. Some people crave for attention by trying to be the funniest guy in the room other than the man or woman doing a routine on stage. Some people do it because they are drunk or on drugs. Some people do it for the sole purpose of impressing their friends. Have you ever been a group of friends where one friend is picked on a lot by one person? Like really mean things are said to that person. But outside the group this jokester is totally cool and never makes fun of you? Yeah most groups have that friend or maybe two of those friends. Most people do it soley to impress their group of friends. Sad, but it's life. I'm sure we are all guilty of it. I am, I'll admit it! These hecklers take that attitude and amplify it. And in this case, it's just crude and awful.

The movie also depicts critics in a bad way. Namely film critics. I have to say I absolutely agree with almost everything that was said about critics in this movie. I don't like to call myself a critic. Heck, I'm not even a proffessional, I do this from my own home. I consider myself a reviewer with my own opinion. I try very hard not to enforce my film opinions on others (however I do on occasion find myself guilty of this, and I am sorry) because everyone is different when it comes to their preference on movies. If a kids movie, like Kennedy's Son of the Mask then adults cannot possibly critique it with such horrible words. If kids liked it, then the film succeeds! The movie centers on that aspect a lot...that film critics come off as know it alls, and rub our faces with big fancy words and ridicule movies for absolutely retarded reasons. Man do I agree with that! I'll be the first to admit some of my reviews can be harsh and may come off as being a bit too analytical. I'm not perfect, but I try not to be that way.

You know these comedians work very, very hard on their acts. Screenwriters and directors work very hard on their films. Most critics have never had a part of actual filmaking, they just watch a lot of movies. They have no right in some sense to ridicule movies. But at the same time critics HAVE seen a lot of movies. They, along with me, do know a thing or two about the finished product and can tell if a movie is bad or good in it's own genre.

I'm sort of rambling here. I thought Heckler was a great look into an unknown problem in the entertainment industry. The movie was a tad on the overly vulgar side, but you are dealing with stand up comics here, who am I to judge that?? This is their world, not mine. They are free to talk anyway they please. Other than that, the movie had a good subject to tell us about. Entertainers are people too, when it comes down to it. They are human beings with actual human feelings. There is nothing different about them from us. They read reviews. They deal with the hecklers. They read the gossip magazines. They have the internet. How would you feel if you typed your name in Google and saw hundred of pages about you blasting how awful you are? You wouldn't, I can assure you. And neither do they.

I don't recommend this movie to people who can't stomach a lot of vulargity, but if you can I think you may like this neat little documentary!

*This is the 143rd new film I've seen and reviewed this year.

*This film is now on DVD.

Changeling

Changeling

Rated R

Running time: 2 hr 21 mins

Cast:

Angelina Jolie
John Malkovich

Critical Consensus:

*** out of ****

(54% Fresh Rating!)

Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:

***** out of *****






The Premise:

A mother's prayer for her kidnapped son to return home is answered, though it doesn't take long for her to suspect the boy who comes back is not hers.

MY REVIEW

Personally I have to say Changeling is in the top three, maybe two of the best films of 2008. You know I have said time in and time out that I love a good period piece film. If a movie takes place in the 20's or 30's, I'll almost surely be there to see it. Director Clint Eastwood uncovered a remarkable true story from the 20's of a woman who's son goes missing and five months later a boy is returned to her that she is convinced is not her son. The LAPD denies this woman her rights to question them and at a point, they throw her in a mental institution, all because they are unable to admit they made a grave mistake.

I have read up on the actual case, and according to the stories I read the film was almost one hundred percent accurate. The bigger, more publicized case was the Wineville Chicken Coop murders. Where Gordon Northcott tortured and killed up to 20 young boys on his chicken farm. Of the supposed boys was Walter Collins (the boy the movie portrays). There were a few details left out, some bigger than others, but the point is this story was brought to us just like it happened in the 20's.

Eastwood did a brilliant job at bringing this time era to life. A lot of movies like this will focus a lot on the fancy sets and costumes, delibertatley trying to wow us. What Eastwood did was wow us with the story and the characters. The 1920's setting literally just became a part of the story. I felt incredibly immersed in this story and time frame that I thought I was watching it unfold for real. Not a lot of movies can truly capture a moment in history like this one did. Undiscovered history at that. Not a lot of movies can captivate an audience like this film did for me.

I don't know if I went through this many emotions in a movie this year. This movie truly tugs away at your heart. It made me feel so sad at times. The story takes us to such a real life level, and when we see the story unfold about the chicken coop murders, it just makes your heart sink. I felt almost traumatized after watching certain events come out in the story. At the same time I felt incredible anger towards certain characters, namely from the police force. They were so frustrating to watch. You really just hate them. And the little boy who claims to be the real Walter Collins, sometimes you want to ring his neck, but than at times I felt really bad for the kid. What I'm saying basically, is that this movie captures real life emotions these characters felt and puts them on us very effectively. Mothers I'm sure feel this woman's pain and suffering when watching the movie.

Oscar winner Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interupted, Wanted) was absolutely brilliant and delivered a haunting performance as the distraught mother. She may make some mistakes in her movie choices, but when she picks the right story, she really picks it. This woman can act, and from time to time she really proves it. Her performance gave me chills. There were two scenes specifically that blew me away. Freaking fantastic performance and she at the very least deserves an Oscar nomination. No doubt! Oscar nominee John Malkovich (In the Line of Fire, Places in the Heart) was amazing as well as the preist who has a personal vendetta against the LAPD. These two worked well together. As much as I hated the characters played by Colm Feore and Jeffrey Donovan, the really did turn in some pretty solid work. And the kids! Oh man, they were great! This was a really awesome cast!

Changeling is a must see film of 2008 in this reviewers opinion. The movie is beautifully shot in every single aspect a film can be shot. I mean a perfectly crafted film. It is one of the only movies of the year to captivate me personally and make me go through a range of emotions like this. No doubt in my mind, this movie will stick in my little noggin for quite some time. That's how effective and brilliant it really is to me. Easily one of the finest and best films of this wonderful year!

**To discuss this film and my review, please go to my message board by clicking this link: Review Talk

To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link: Changeling
*This is the 142nd new film I've seen and reviewed this year.