X-Men: The Last Stand

Leighton: ***, Sabine: ***
Theater Screening

This third movie in the X-Men franchise keeps the action at a high level and increases its darkness. I can't decide if I like it more than X2 (aka X-men: X-men United). Taking over as director is Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Red Dragon). Most of the characters from the previous movies have returned, and some new ones are introduced. Rumor has it, this is the last of the X-Men movies. I guess it's not so bad an idea to go out on top instead of releasing increasingly lame sequels until no one cares anymore. Besides, with so many X-men on the roster, the potential for spin-off movies about individual characters (i.e. Wolverine) is almost limitless.

JARHEAD

PoP - ***1/2

A well crafted film about the experiences of Anthony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) in Saudi Arabia during operation Desert Shield and then in Kuwait during Desert Storm.

The film contrasts the ongoing training of a Marine unit, against the boredom of waiting to be used for the purpose for which they have trained. Ane, wait they do.

When the war finally begins, the technology of warfare denies these scout/snipers the opportunity to use the skills that they have trained to perfect.

Gyllenhall continues to give award wining performances. Jamie Foxx also provides an award quality performance as Staff Sgt. Sykes who trains the men and accompanies them into battle.

What I will be watching...

An Inconvenient Truth
June 9th
AMC Loews Esquire 6
58 E Oak St
Chicago, IL 60611

From director Davis Guggenheim comes the Sundance Film Festival hit, An Inconvenient Truth, which offers a passionate and inspirational look at one man's fervent crusade to halt global warming's deadly progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it. That man is former Vice President Al Gore, who, in the wake of defeat in the 2000 election, re-set the course of his life to focus on a last-ditch, all-out effort to help save the planet from irrevocable change. In this eye-opening and poignant portrait of Gore and his "traveling global warming show," Gore also proves himself to be one of the most misunderstood characters in modern American public life. Here he is seen as never before in the media - funny, engaging, open and downright on fire about getting the surprisingly stirring truth about what he calls our "planetary emergency" out to ordinary citizens before it's too late.

I'll be going to see this on June 9th. It's also playing on June 2nd, but the three theaters are all too far away to be convenient. ;) Click on the title link to go to the official movie website for locations, info, and links to the trailer.

House of Flying Daggers

Leighton ***1/2
DVD Rental

I have to admit, I really like a lot of the movies coming out of China, whether they're the bullets and blood movies of John Woo or the quirky folk tales of Ang Lee or Yimou Zhang, who directed House of Flying Daggers. The locations and scenery in this movie are beautiful, especially the bamboo grove, and the way the scenes are framed and filmed is amazing. The fight sequences are like ballet. And there is still room in the movie for a love triangle. I haven't seen Hero yet, also by Yimou Zhang, so I can't compare the two. But House of Flying Daggers was really enjoyable.

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PoP ***1/2

I really enjoyed this film. It is another of what I refer to as a Chinese folk tale film. It has twists and turns in the roles of the characters, but in the end, it all ties together and makes sense.

The young actress, Ziyi Zhang, delivers another wonderful performance as the heroine. Since her breakout
performance in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, she has given a string of wonderful performances including, Hero, and Memoirs of a Geisha.

All in all, it remains a guy flick as opposed to a chick flick.